Arts

The Women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

A family at the screening of “Princess and the Frog”

From left to right, Larry Lawson, Coordinating Producer for NESN; media personality, Coach Willie Maye and Greg Lee, Boston Globe sports writer.

I love this time of the year because there are so many wonderful parties to attend!  You get to dress up, look fantastic, meet up with old friends, hopefully make some new ones and truly celebrate the magic of the season. 

The Women’s National Book Association Holiday Tea

I love to read and I recently had the pleasure of attending an event called the Annual Holiday Tea, hosted by Lisa Jackson, president of the Women’s National Book Association’s (WNBA/Boston) at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.  The WNBA is a national organization of women and men who work with and value books.  The WNBA came into being to inform book women about matters relevant to themselves and the book world so that these women could inform and help one another.  This year’s Holiday Tea featured the 2009 Massachusetts Book Award Winners: Oni Buchanan, Poetry Honors; Katie Smith Milway, Children’s/Young Adult Winner and Nancy Werlin, Children’s/Young Adult Honors.  The Boston Chapter provided charitable donations of gently used children’s books and sold raffles to benefit The Women’s Lunch Place.  Located in the Back Bay, The Women’s Lunch has provided refuge for Boston’s poor and homeless women for over 25 years.   There were some great prizes up for grabs such as dinner at area restaurants and Boston hotel stays, however, I wasn’t one of the lucky ones to win a prize, but it didn’t matter.  The event was for a great cause and we toasted the holiday season with tea, pastries and scones.

Post 390

I met up with a good friend for an early evening at the latest restaurant du jour, Post 390, located on the site of the former Back Bay Post Office Annex and steps away from the John Hancock Tower.  Post 390 is referred to as an “urban tavern.”  I loved the ambience as soon as I walked in.  It must have something to do with the warmth of the four-sided fireplace that greets you as you enter the tavern.  We sat at the 25- seat bar where we were able to people-watch, both inside and outside the restaurant, courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Stuart and Clarendon Streets.  We were so captivated by our surroundings and just chatting away, that we never the left the bar or made it up the wrought iron staircase to the second floor.  Post 390 is a great place to impress a first date, especially if you’re seated at one of the banquettes, or to meet up with friends after work or have dinner with clients. 

The United Minority Professionals 22nd Ebony Winter Gala ’09

It was my first time attending the Ebony Winter Gala at the Boston Copley Marriott Hotel and even though it was cold and blustery outside, it was hot inside with Soul Patrol spinning R&B, Hip Hop, Old School and House in the main ballroom.  As I was catching up with fellow UMass Amherst Alums Reggie Perry and Chris Barnes, I heard the beginning of Raze’s “Break 4 Love” (oh, did I mention, I’m a “house head”?) I jumped to the dance floor and my soul clap was on!!!  The event was sponsored by the United Minority Professionals along with the National Society of Black Engineers, Blacks in Government, and the women of Delta Sigma Theta, Boston Alumnae Chapter, and the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Eta Phi Chapter and CITE-New England.  It was a night of networking, meeting up with friends and celebrating the holiday season.

The Princess and the Frog Screening, Black Nativity, Tremont Temple

Like many women, (or at least I think so), I have a soft spot for the fairytale of a princess finding her Prince Charming. Well, Disney has a new spin on the traditional fairytale featuring their first African American Princess, “Princess Tiana.”  The Boston Chapter of Links, Inc. and the Roxbury Film Festival presented a special screening of Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” at the Regal Fenway Theater.  It was so cute to see so many beautiful African American girls and boys excited about the first African American Princess and even more so to see the girls dressed up in their Princess Tiana costumes.  At the morning screening was Makeeba McCreary, Founder/Executive Director of Abekam with her son Gary and Benaree Wiley, former president and CEO of The Partnership, Inc. Kudos to Lisa Simmons (founder of The Color of Film) for putting the screening together!

Later that evening was a performance of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity at The Tremont Temple in downtown Boston.   This year, Black Nativity celebrated its 40th Season and after seeing it for the very first time, I will definitely return next year. It’s a heart-warming and uplifting gospel song-play that tells the story of the birth of Christ to gospel music backed by the Voices of Black Persuasion and Children of Black Persuasion.  I’m told that with every performance, the three kings are played by different individuals.  On this night, it was a sports theme and the three kings were represented by Larry Lawson, NESN’s coordinating producer, Greg Lee, sports editor for the Boston Globe and media personality  Coach Willie Maye. 

Sun Life Frozen Fenway 2010

I know that the Winter Classic is coming up on New Year’s Day, so when I was invited to go ice skating at Fenway Park, I immediately jumped at the chance.  I hadn’t been on ice skates in….oh, let’s just say, it’s been awhile.  The ice skating session was an hour long and was such a blast!!! I felt like a kid all over again and it was so much fun, especially, once I let go of the side of the rink and started actually skating.  Adults and kids alike were zooming past me, but I didn’t care.  It was all about having fun and we certainly did and of course, once done with skating, I had to cap off the day with a lovely hot toddie.  Thanks to the folks at Fenway and Sun Life for such a memorable day!

Love to hear from ya!  Reach out to me at inthemixwithcolette@gmail.com.