Beyonce New Videos “Halo” & “Diva”!

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukah & Happy Kwanzaa! Beyonce’s got two new videos out just in time for the holidays. Despite our notion that the singer would oly be releasing “Diva” which she recently shot in Los Angeles, she’s gone a different route. She’s released TWO videos for the price of one, once again. The fierce and fabulous “Diva” and the beautiful ballad “Halo” an ode to her love angel (wonder who that might be). In the first video it is the quite handsome Michael Ealy. Well, if you know like I know- check out the videos right now because Bey’s clips don’t last long on the internet!

Estelle To Play Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival

According to CaribPR, UK’s lovely lyricist Estelle will hit the stage at the 2009 annual Jamaican Jazz & Blues Festival held from January 22-25, 2009.

Also on the bill is Jewish reggae singer Matisyahu (and this will be his debut at the event), the legendary Lionel Richie and blue-eyed soul singing Robin Thicke.

A three-day pass will run you $155.00 American and you can pre-order at jamaicajazzandblues.com. Now, anyone have a deal on plane tickets? Extra miles? A free companion ticket?

Vanessa & Angela Get Their Own Show

The Simmons’ sisters are branching out. Run of Run DMC’s prized eldest two daughters Vanessa and Angela are getting their very own show. Since “Run’s House”, the two have relocated to Los Angeles to further grow their Pastry business. The reality spin-off show, titled “Daddy’s Little Girls” (how cute!), will follow the sibblings through their acting pursuits, fashion career, and play in La La Land. “Daddy’s Little Girls” will debut on MTV in January 2009.

Times Square Films, Panel & Cocktail Hour

This Thursday the Harlem based film extravaganza that is Rent Control: NYC Documented and Imagined Screenings continues with a focus on the center of the world - Times Square. The screenings takes place at 7:00pm at the Maysles Cinema in Harlem. The address is: 343 Malcolm X Blvd between 127th & 128th Street in New York City. And below is the screening schedule. For the suggested $7.00 donation, you can not beat this kind of culture in New York.

Square Times
Dir. Rudy Burckhardt (1967) 6.5 min.
A Saturday night on 42nd Street, from dusk to dawn. The glamour, the garbage, the hot dogs, the movies, the sex and the violence in the air — with music by Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Sodom and Gomorrah, NY, 10036
Dir. Rudy Burckhardt (1976) 6.5 min.
A documentary short about the sex industry around 8th Avenue and 42nd Street.

Doin’ Time in Time Square
Dir. Charlie Ahearn (1991) 39 min.
Described as the home video from hell, Doin’ Time in Times Square documents the view and action outside director Charlie Ahearn’s 43rd Street apartment window from 1986 to 1990. Charlie Ahearn, whose 1983 film Wild Style was a cult hip hop hit, was “blessed” with a generous view of the sleeze emporiums up Eighth Avenue and down 43rd. His window provides a view into midtown New York’s street brutality in those dark years before it was “cleaned up” and “Disneyfied”, His Hi-8 camera captures rip-offs, drug sales, police stake-outs and fights - lots of fights. On any given day we see fist-fights, domestic squabbles and bad deals going down. It is both a social and personal document.

Jane in Peepland
Dir. Charlie Ahearn (1993) 20 min.
Painter Jane Dickson as resident observer of the neon lit streets of Times Square.

A&E Biography: Times Square
(2001) 10 min.
Clips from A&E Biography: Times Square on Guy Gonzales and his 40 Deuce Sex Show performer days

Panel @ 8:30pm
Dir. Charlie Ahearn (Doin’ Time in Times Square, Wild Style)
Dir. Richard Sandler (the Gods of Times Square)
Jane Dickson (Public Artist/The MTA Mosaic/42nd street)
Guy Gonzales (Artist, Former 42nd Street Sex Show Performer)

Cocktails, Snacks, Memorabilia and Art @ 9:15pm

Celebs Step Out for D&G!

Zoe Saldana, Sanaa Lathan, and Gabrielle Union all showed up for the grand opening of the Dolce & Gabbana flagship boutique in Beverly Hills this week. The event was hosted by Rachel Bilson and benefited the Art of Elysium. Also in attendance at the Los Angeles fashion event was Paris Hilton, Nikki Hilton, Gennifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta Will Be Back

Bravo announced the renewal of their highly rated series “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” which follows five women from Atlanta as they juggle their careers, homes, and cocktail parties. While I’m personally not a big fan of the new money, cat fighting series, it is reported to be Bravo’s first docu-drama to crack the two million viewer mark among adults aged 18-49. So now maybe Nene will get her home back and Kim will give up on her singing career. Just because I don’t love it doesn’t mean I don’t watch it.

Halle Berry & Tyler Perry to Host NAACP Awards

Halle Berry and Tyler Perry will join forces, with their rhyming last names, to host the 40th Annual NAACP Image Awards. The celebration is slated to take place in Los Angeles at the Shrine Auditorium on February 12, 2009 on Fox Network.

This event is particularly special because it coincides with the 100th anniversary of the legendary NAACP organization. The nominations for the show will be announced on January 7, 2008 in Los Angeles with performers and presenters preceding that announcement.

Pin-Up Royalty Passes

On Thursday, quintessential pin-up icon Bettie Page passed away at the age of 85 from pneumonia. Bettie was notorious throughout the ’50s for being one of the most photographed women of the time. Page’s nude pictorial in Playboy magazine led to her image becoming prominent on posters, cards and other paraphenelia. Bettie’s dark hair and short blunt bangs have become a staple in certain style circles. As for the voluptuous vixen’s history, she was born in Nashville, TN and orphaned after her father was sent to prison. Page was married three times before suffering from schizophrenia in the ’70s.

Birthday Spotlight: Katie Holmes

Actress Katie Holmes celebrates her birthday December 18. The actress broke through with her role on “Dawson’s Creek” before starring in the films Go, Teaching Mrs. Tingle, Phone Booth, Pieces of April, Batman Begins, and Thank You Smoking.

Katie married fellow thespian Tom Cruise in 2007, shortly after giving birth to their daughter Suri. Katie is currently performing on Broadway in the production ”All My Sons.”

Here Comes Baby in the Baby Carriage…

Congratulations to Usher and Tameka Raymond on the birth of their second child. According to the superstar’s representative, the two welcomed their second child together - a baby boy named Naviyd Ely Raymond Wednesday at 2:33am. He weighed in at a reported 5lbs and 13 ounces. Despite his busy schedule, Usher was rumored to have been at his wife’s side at the time of delivery. Usher and Tameka have been married for a year and the couple’s first son is named Usher Raymond V. We wish the growing family the best!

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