Empress Ish

Empress in the City - Moca Lounge in NYC

* Me & Ryan Ryan Stewart of ESPN's Two Live Stews

Just this past weekend I was charged with the daunting task of introducing a friend to NYC. Everyone’s first trip to New York is on some levels a tad intimidating and always exciting. As my friend is Black, of course I had to introduce him to Harlem. The question then became “where in Harlem do you take a NYC newbie?” The answer is Moca.

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Reflections Of Us Book Release Event

Reflections of Us Book Release party is happening April 3rd at the lovely Le Grand Dakar on 258 Grand Ave in Fort Greene Brooklyn from 3-8pm. There will be appetizers served. You will also enjoy a performance by soulful singer Yaniera De Jour and the powerful Spoken Word Artist K-Lyric.

" Reflections of Us" is a poetry book that: uplifts, celebrates and reflects Black women in the inner-city. This book has raw and heartfelt poems, stories and messages that will touch on sensitive topics such as: being a single mother, loving yourself, finding love, lesbian relationships, the of love for drug dealers and street life etc. It will also have empowering poems on how to overcome struggle, how to embrace our beauty, our culture and become business owners, instead of workers."

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Brooklyn Restaurant Week 3/15 - 3/25

Its Brooklyn Restaurant Week from 3/15/10 to 3/25/10 in select restaurants in Brooklyn. You can get a quality 3 course meals for $20.10 (Lunch) or $25 (Dinner). Who can beat that?

Here are a list of some of the restaurants in Brooklyn that are participating. For a complete list check out here and click "Official Website".

Also, if you have checked any of these places out, let us know what you thought in the comment box below so we and your fellow readers know what you recommend.

Bay Ridge

-The Pearl Room, 8201 3rd Ave, (718) 833-6666

Bedford-Stuyvesant

-Peaches Restaurant, 393 Lewis Ave, (718) 942-41620

Boerum Hill

-Bacchus, 409 Atlantic Ave, (718) 852-1572

-Downtown Atlantic, 364 Atlantic Ave, (718) 852-9945

-Lunetta, 116 Smith St, (718) 488-6269

Brooklyn Heights

-Queen Ristorante, 84 Court St, (718) 596-5955

-Waterfront Ale House, 155 Atlantic Ave, (718) 522-3794

Bushwick

-Northeast Kingdom, 18 Wyckoff Ave, (718) 386-3864

Carroll Gardens

Alma Restaurant, 187 Columbia St, (718) 643-5400

Clinton Hill

-Five Spot Restaurant, 459 Myrtle Ave, (718) 852-0202

Clinton Hill

-Bocca Lupo, 391 Henry St, (718) 243-2522

Downtown

-Junior's Restaurant, 386 Flatbush Ave Extension, (718) 852-5257

DUMBO

-The River Café, 1 Water St, (718) 522-5200

Fort Greene

-iCi, 246 Dekalb Ave, (718) 789-2778

Park Slope

-al di laTrattoria, 248 5th Ave, (718) 636-8888

-Blue Ribbon, 280 5th Ave, (718) 840-0404

-Bogota Latin Bistro, 141 5th Avenue, (718) 230-3805

Williamsburg

-Giando on the Water, 400 Kent Ave, (718) 387-7000

-baci & abbaci, 204 Grand Ave, (718) 599-6599

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Empress in the City- Photog Deborah's Bday

*(far left) Natasha from Good Girl PR & (middle) Whitley a.k.a. Empress in the City

Renowned fashion photographer Deborah Boardley recently celebrated her birthday with a very private affair at the mid-town loft known to industry types as 450 Studios. Ms. Boardley is the current Photo Editor of Essence Magazine and has photographed hundreds of stars from Rihanna to Mary J. Blige. Her work was elegantly displayed on a large scale projector screen that greeted guests at the door. The chic setup done by Good Girl PR’s Natasha was a hit. The cavernous loft space was dimly lit, stylishly decorated and DJ Nickiee spun some fly tracks.

The evening’s signature drink was a deliciously appropriate pink mix of X- Rated Fusion Liqueur and seltzer garnished with lime or lemon. I had several and they were wonderful. Feast On Us Catering supplied the modish food and the desserts by Who Made That Cake were appropriately decadent. Ms. Boardley arrived flanked by an entourage of go-to girls at her side. Her warm smile was accented by a red cocktail dress by EDress Me. The amount of Black NYC power players was through the roof! I can’t even tell you how many amazing go-getters I met. Spotted were fashion PR genius Kelly Mills, Christopher Quincy of TR Luxury, and Jason Mitchell Founder of Grae Enterprises and many others.

Gift bags were stocked with all kinds of great stuff from skin care to designer scarves. I left the party enchanted, and feeling enthused to watch out for Deb’s next ten years of work! Happy Birthday!

- Whitley Gilbert (Empress in the City)

-additional sources - blogs.uptownlife.net