Seen conversing and dancing the afternoon away at the Boule Soiree, held at B. Smith’s on Long Wharf Street in Sag Harbor, were Appellate Court Judge Cheryl Chambers with her husband, New York State Bar Association President Seymour James; Dr. Sam Daniel, who executed his smooth moves on the dance floor, along with his wife, Sheryl, and friend Dr. Romel down from Greenwich, Conn.; Boule President Mel Douglas with her gal pal Gay Bullock (who, in simple white jeans, always looks good); Steve and Barbara Williams; Mel and Debbie Jackson; Regina Darby, Esq.; Renee Buford; Bunny Ledford; Jim and Joanne Skeets; Luther Clark; and Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and her husband, Donald, to name just a few. Perhaps this Boule Soiree was the best one yet.
During the Boule Soiree, the Sharon Simmons Art Gallery presented the Heart to Art Sag Harbor III art exhibition, which added an extra attraction. Featured artists from various points around the country flew their works in just for the occasion. Artists included Danny Simmons, Brent Bailer, Joseph Bell-Bey, Nancy Brandon, James Brown, Ramona Candy, Mary Chang, Sdikisha Collier, James Denmark, Clause Lawrence, Lois LeBlanc, Karl McIntosh, Donovan Nelson, Ernani Silva, Ann Tanksley, Ronald Walton and child artist Julia Angelee Mitchell. Mitchell’s beaming parents were honored to have her included in the show amongst the professionals and were over the moon to learn that one of her pictures sold.
Queens Borough President Marshall will be honored on Sept. 28 by the Queens community organization Elmcor. The event will be held at the Louis Armstrong Recreation Center at 33-16 108th St., Corona, N.Y. Doors open at 6 p.m., and dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.elmcor.org.
The International Woman Writers Guild held their annual weekend workshop this year at Drew University, located in Madison, N.J. A variety of workshops were offered, some of which included “Muse Magic”; “Maximizing Your Memoir”; “Resounding Silence”; “Yes, You Can Write Poetry”; “Crafting Fiction, Drama & Memoir from Three-Sentence Stories”; “Presentation Skills for Writers”; “Loss, Lies & Characters We Love”; “The Writer at Work”; and “Dangerous Writing.” The group of approximately 75 woman, who traveled from as far away as Switzerland and Canada, shared stories and built up a camaraderie, which was really something to write about.
Among the professors teaching the workshops was Robyn Hatcher, president of SpeakEtc. Hatcher, who lives in lower Manhattan, taught techniques for helping clients polish the “non-verbal elements of communication-body language, gestures [and] vocal quality, as well as the verbal-word choice, content and organization to become more powerful and engaging communicators.”
The group was fortunate to have Hatcher join the stellar cast of workshop professors because in addition to her work with business professions and entrepreneurs, she is also an adjunct professor at Baruch College and F.I.T. She’s also a curriculum developer with Leadership Transformation Group Llc and a performer with Performance Plus, an innovative management training whose clients include Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Wachovia. But wait … there’s more. Hatcher is an active member of several professional organizations that include Savor the Success, Ladies Who Launch, Step Up Women’s Network and New York Women in Communications and is an appointed member of Community Board 5. You may have seen Hatcher on the screen; she is an award-winning professional actress and TV and film writer. She has appeared on TV in commercials and was recently awarded Best Actress in a Short Film at the Golden Door International Film Festival (GDIFF).
The GDIFF is a four-day festival held in Jersey City, NJ, usually during the month of October, celebrating the talent of independent filmmakers. Those who work in the industry gather together and travel throughout the city, screening films and subsequently judging them for their excellence. Activities culminate in an awards ceremony on closing night, and it couldn’t be more exciting; it’s the second best thing after the Oscars.
As I took a stroll down the avenue one warm, balmy evening, it was hard not to notice all of the activity and interactions of the people. Upon reflection, I feel I must give a shout-out to the guys on the street. I know I sometimes give you a bad rap, wanting to send you to Afghanistan. However, I can assure you that that message is only directed to the knuckleheads who walk around with guns, ready to shoot you rather than say hello. We’re all trying to live together around here.
Speaking of living together around here, if you haven’t had the annual summertime Maine Lobster Roll, you can get a good one at the Astor Row Cafe, at 130th Street and Lenox Avenue. Sunday is also Paella Night at the cafe, where the fresh muscles are sautéed outside on the sidewalk, under a tent by the chef. With the cafe’s wafting aroma, patrons, staff and music, you can’t help but get in the groove.
Happy birthday to the Sister, 131st Street, Lenox Ave., Douglas Lewis, Debbie Lewis, Charles O’Brien and Sophie Trahan. You will be happy to know that our own Marcus Samuelsson, owner of the Red Rooster and author of “Yes, Chef”; Frank Savage, author of “The Savage Way”; and Nile Rodgers, author of “Le Freak,” were among the featured authors at the East Hampton Library ninth annual Authors Night.
Authors Night has grown to be the premier literary event in the Hamptons. There were 125 authors and more than 1,000 people in attendance, marking the event as one of the most anticipated of the season. The children like it because they know the book festival includes popcorn, balloons and arts and crafts. There were two young ladies who were once married to the same man (not at the same time, thank goodness) and are now co-authoring a book to talk about the experience.
Meanwhile, on the West Coast, Kiehl’s, known as an old–world neighborhood apothecary that manufactures skin products, recently held its fourth annual LifeRide for amfAR. LifeRide is a nine-day philanthropic motorcycle ride from Seattle to Los Angeles to raise funds and awareness for amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research. The event concluded with an exciting public finale event at the Grove in Los Angeles. Included in the wrap-up was a celebrity ride-up, a check presentation ceremony with Global Fundraising Chairman Sharon Stone, performances by Kelis and DJ Spinderella, an interactive photo booth with Harley-Davidson, temporary tattoo artists and more. Kiehl’s also used the occasion to introduce their limited edition Ultimate Strength Hand Salve. Up to $25,000 or 100 percent of the net profits will benefit amfAR. There’s nothing like getting rid of that dry skin and contributing to a cause.
It seems as though actor Tracy Morgan of the television series 30 Rock, where the jokes tend to get a bit risqué, has a $400,000 live shark fish tank in his basement and the cutest little baby girl. No, she’s not in the shark tank.
Until next week … kisses
