Young Patrons of Lincoln Center's Holiday Party @ MiN

From left: YPLC member Saleda Bryant, Ashley NYC, YPLC steering committee member Dawne Marie Grannum
w/ YPLC members, guests and Lincoln Center employees: (From left)Saleda Bryant, Kwesi Blair, Caroline Hamilton, guest, Jason Paez, Ashley, Dawne Marie Grannum, Emily Feinstein, Andrew Kalish
Employees of "MiN" (location of party)

Tonight I was invited to a holiday party in SoHo. It was a warm gathering filled with a lot of holiday spirited professionals and artists, which was hosted by the Young Patrons of Lincoln Center (YPLC). Festive libations, snacks and desserts were served, with merry music and conversation. It was held at the MiN New York location.

Dawne Marie Grannum,a YPLC Steering Committe member, reflects on tonight's event, "A great time was had tonight at the YPLC Holiday party! The event was well attended and the crowd was a nice mix of YPLC members who had been with the organization for years as well as members who had recently joined; in fact I met someone who had just signed up the day before. There was merriment everywhere and we look forward to having more of these social gatherings in the future! Hope you can join us at the next one."

Caroline Hamilton, Manager of Young Patrons of Lincoln Center, tells Ashley and New York, "Last year Lincoln Center celebrated its 50th Anniversary, and YPLC represents a new generation of arts enthusiasts that will support this institution for the next 50 years. Our members are interested in everything from Opera to Hip Hop to Fashion -- and YPLC provides a forum where they can learn about every art form on this campus. Many YPLC members have become leaders at Lincoln Center, fundraising for major galas, underwriting the cost of educational series, and serving on community outreach initiatives in the Lincoln Center neighborhood."

Look man, "For Colored Girls" is NOT about "hating men" as you say, it's about women loving themselves...so get over it!

Ashley w/ "For Colored Girls" actress Janet Jackson in Hollywood
Ashley w/ "For Colored Girls" actress Kerry Washington at a leadership conference at USC in 2006

"For Colored Girls" is a film that powerfully moves people to feel emotions when watching it....and even some time after. For me the film had multiple themes. One theme would be how many women (includng myself) allow the past to dictate their present and shape their future more than it should, and in a negative way. Another theme was that some women make too many excuses for people in their life (partners or family members) who are doing them wrong. The time comes when a woman has to realize that she has to love herself before she can find the love from others that she wants, and even then, some of the people she wants to "save" are the only ones who can save themselves. Abusive relationships are not love, and staying with an abusive person is not helping anyone.

I chose of this title of this blog to be "Look man, "For Colored Girls" is NOT about "hating men" as you say, it's about women loving themselves...so get over it!" because I feel a lot of male critics of this film are misguided. Many men thought it was a "man hating" movie. Actually, I thought it was the opposite: it was about women loving themselves enough to get through life's challenges. The movie was not just about "abusive men", it was also about family, children, getting over the past, abortion, career, etc.

I think this movie was just as brave a movie could be.

UNICEF Snowflake Ball 2011

Katie Proudman, Fistful Of Mercy's Dhani's Harrison, Ashley
w/ Caryl M. Stern (President & CEO of United States Fund for UNICEF
w/ Mia Brandt of UNICEF

Fistful Of Mercy performing
Olivia Harrison recieving the Spirit of Compassion Award

UNICEF held their seventh annual Snowflake Ball in New York City last week at Cipriani's. UNICEF will present the Spirit of Compassion Award to Olivia Harrison for her commitment to child survival.

Helping in need children has always been a passion of mine, having gone through many obstacles myself as a child.

The musical revolutionary pianist ELEW played, his talent is so amazing. Fistful of Mercy also performed. The trio band includes Ben Harper (one of my favorite musicians), Dhani Harrison (whose mother recieved the award of the night)and Joseph Arthur.

Chanel SoHo Store Opening! Coco Chanel was the original independent woman, love her!

Chanel opened up a new boutique in SoHo during Fashion Week. It was a very intimate party, and I have never seen so much fashionistas crammed into such a small space before!

People who know me know that I am a closeted hippy to a degree, and I used to not be into fashion at all. A lot of California NATIVES are jeans and T-shirts girls, no makeup. I do like the expressive part of dressing up, but I’m not a label groupie, but if I like what the actual designer stands for, then that’s a different story. What I mean is that I like Chanel for different reasons then other girls may like the brand. I don’t like Chanel for pretentious and superficial reasons. I like what the real woman, Coco Chanel, symbolized. Like Chanel, I was an orphan who had a very challenging upbringing, yet never gave up on love. I too have been let down so many times by family and society, which has inspired me to have this strong drive to make it on my own terms, no matter how hard or long it takes. Like Chanel, I own myself, no one owns me. In a time when most women felt the need to be dependent, Chanel was a pioneer who defined what it meant to be a career woman. Chanel also believed in true love, and ignored the bitter hearts around her who told her to settle. So when I wear Chanel, it’s not because I feel self worth comes from how much one’s outfit costs, but because Chanel makes me want to follow my dreams no matter how many times I hear "no", and because I know one day I am going to buy my OWN house with the profits from my OWN company. (Though I love Chanel, I will never, ever wear fur)

Gossip Girl's Blake Lively

model Shalom Harlow

Paula Patton and Robin Thicke are one of the cutest Hollywood married couples!!!!!

Ashley and model/actress Molly Simms strike a pose!

Tommy Hilfiger 25 Year Anniversary Gala @ Lincoln Center

Tommy Hilfiger celebrated the 25th anniversay of his fashion line with an extravagant gala at the Lincoln Center in the middle of New York Fashion Week. Hundreds of people came out, live music was performed and many got to see the new home of Fashion Week. Sure was a fun time!

Tommy Hilfiger

Neil Patrick Harris

Fern Mallis (founder of New York Fashion Week)

Fashion designer Kimora Lee Simmons

John Varvatos party

(from left) Ashley NYC, rapstar Trina, tennis star Serena William, Destiny's Child Kelly Rowland

I had a really good time at John Varvatos' party at his store. The best part was that I saw some buddies from LA who were in toen for Fashion Week. I saw Serena Willims, and she is such a trooper, not going to let the whole "bad referee call" dram keep her down. I also saw Jodi Britt, who I used to work with at the LACMA museum in LA 6 or so years ago. She now lives in LA and is an art dealer. After the mixer, some of went doen to the basement where there was a mini concert. Rocka dn roll baby, what a fun night!


w/ Jodi Britt (we used to work at LACMA together many years ago in LA)
John Varvatos (center) and his rock star buddies

Only Marc Jacobs Can Get Away With Having Four Different Parties On One Night!

The best Fashion Week party is usually Marc Jacobs, though this year her had multiple smaller parties, instead of a big blow out one like last season's party where Lady Gaga performed). After his show, there was a mixer at his SoHo store, and one at his newly opened Bleecker Street bookstore "Bookmarc", and one down the street at an art gallery (with photos taken by the very talented Brian Bowen Smith. Marc then had a party for his employees at one of may favorite venues "Paris Commune". I was invited, though I dont work for Jacobs, and there was dinner and drinks. Well, just another fun night during New York Fashion Week (which blows LA Fashion Week out of the water time ten!)

w/ Marc Jacobs @ his SoHo store

w/ Jaime Martinez, owner of Paris Commune

w/ photographer Brian Bowen Smith

Emmy Awards Party hosted by Entertainment Weekly and Women In Film in Los Angeles

I had a good Emmy Awards weekend! Its like the Super Bowl for LA girls! :)On August 27th, Entertainment Weekly and Women In Film hosted their 2010 Primetime Emmy Party, presented by L’Oreal at the Sunset Marquis Hotel. EW and WIF honor the 2010 female Primetime Emmy nominees. It was by far the funnest party I went to this weekend, ran into some friends, and met some people's who's work that I admire. It was great to talk to like minded folks about two film projects I'm working on. Women In Film is such a helpful organization that really mentors and nurtures women in the industry. I look forward to volunteering with them!

Actress Garcelle Beauvais, Ashley, 'Saved By The Bell's' Mark-Paul Gosselaar
Ashley, ABC Family 'Greek's' Amber Stevens, Actress Shay Mitchell
w/ Pussy Cat Doll's leader singer Nicole Scherzinger
Ashley, True Blood's Sam Trammell, Christina
Ashley and Mad Men's John Hamm

Campari Celebrates 150th Anniversry @ Bowery Hotel

What a lovely time I had at the Campari 150th anniversary party at The Bowery Hotel. My friend Brody Brown was in town from LA (who does marketing for Campari) and invited my friends and I. I got to meet one of my favorite actors, James Franco. There was some great musical entertainment. Happy 150th Birthday Campari!

w/ James Franco
w/ Campari employees

So Sad, Sarah Silverman's Show's Cancelled :(

I am so bummed to hear that funny girl Sarah Silverman's show has now been cancelled. After 3 seasons, Comedy Central has said goodbye. In the male dominated world of comedy, Silverman broke through and entertained millions. Though I will miss her show, I'm sure she will find other opportunities.

I first met Sarah a few years ago at Clive Davis' Pre Grammy Celebration at The Beverly Hills Hilton. At the time I was involved in entertainment public relations, and became friendly with numerous celebrities. Actresses Nia Long and Sana Lathan (love them both!) had invited me to sit at their table for dinner. Sarah and her then boyfriend Jimmy Fallen were sitting at the same table! I would see and chat with her at other events after that too. My friend Hannah invited me to a LAGLC gala in which Hannah was receiving an award. I was happy to see Sarah was donating to that charity, and she performed stand up. She had the whole crowd laughing out of our seats!

Her character is witty, spunky and tells it how it is- she doesn't sugar coat.

I have never been a fan of how unfair the comedy world is to female comedians. My theory is that the men who run the comedy circuits don’t like to hear smart women bust their chops, so they keep the women representation to a minimum. Anyways, Sarah is an authentic talent, and she will blessed with other projects I'm sure.

Dear Los Angeles, the answer is NO!

Dear Los Angeles, I need you to understand that I am not Ariel the little mermaid - I will never give up my voice like she did for the man, and for the palace. I will never give up my fins and my community to live inside your establishment. For years you have tried every trick in the book to make me sign a bogus contract, and I hope that you finally realize that I am not going to be owned like a piece of property. I would rather be homeless on the streets, and I’ve been there, then to live in a castle where I have no freedom. And just because I am a woman with no financial security, and an artist and activist who needs resources to push forward her goals, don’t expect me to go in some cage while you leech off my energy and try to exploit my message. I do not need your assistance, though I do want it. It would be nice to work together, but not at the expense of losing my artistic freedom, and my status as an independent woman. Los Angeles, you have a way of mistreating women who you desire, and I will not put up with your abuse. I knew all along I would have to leave you. Since I was a teenager people told me my heart would not be fully appreciated there, but I didn’t leave. What I learned is that in fact my heart was appreciated there, but greedy and sad forces wanted to put my light in a glass cabinet. I am a human being, not a trophy. I am a writer, not a model. I am ambitious in giving love, not in receiving false riches. I do not believe you when you tell me I have to be a good little girl, shut up, and let this moral less institution mold me to what they think will be most profitable. What you see as profitable, and what I see as rewarding, is as different as gloomy grey and bright yellow. All I physically need are four walls, a roof, and a window to look out. To be honest, I am surprised that I did not take you up on your offer to be produced; most of my girl friends would have jumped at the opportunities. My feelings were confused, and my mind told me it was the logical thing to do. But it was something in my gut that saved me. A voice inside told me to say no to temptation. My mother told me to move smart, not fast. Even when you misled me, and manipulated my feelings, it must have been a guardian angel that protected me from letting you devour me. At my most hopeless point in my stay in LA, it was the grace of God, of Mother Life, that led me to new friends in LA, and that would be the activist communities, the people who were taking action for human being equality, uplifting feminine as strong, when you tried to tell me it was weak. These friends de-brainwashed me, and reminded me that everything I felt as a innocent child was the real truth. After I became engaged in so many movements contrary to your big Hollywood machine’s priorities, my hope came back to me. My dreams became resurrected, but this time, I again believed as when I was a child that they would come true. There is no going back to behaving like your victim LA. There are good parts of you, but I will not let you bully, seduce and scare me into being a prisoner on Mt Olympus, with its brutish rulers who think they are gods. You continually threaten to “blacklist” me in the entertainment industry me if I refuse to be your slave, and you should know your fear tactics no longer work on me. Where there are good intentions, there is a way. Where there is love, there are healthy options. There are people in the industry who have not sold their soul- and they will protect me from disgruntled people who have. The only authority I acknowledge is love, light and laughter.

William Rast after party/ Justin Timberlake performance!

(L-R) Ashley NYC, Ryan Phillippe, Michelle Travis

Happy Valentines Day- be patient, you and your soulmate will unite!

Happy Valentines Day belated! People are always using the term -hope"less" romantic-, and maybe that's how they feel. But I always identify as a hopeFULL romantic- meaning that I'm not jaded into not believing that there is that special someone in the world for me. Though other people's misery may like company, I have faith that my soul mate and I are bound to unite soon enough. What I tell my friends who identify as "hopeless" romantics-, is to stop speaking into the universe that they will not find true love. But the main thing I stress to my girlfriends is that YOU MUST LOVE YOURSELF FIRST BEFORE TRUE LOVE WILL COME TO YOU FROM SOMEONE ELSE. I was not always so hopeful though. There was a time that I was pressured from society into thinking I "needed" someone else to complete me, or to "save me". Now I know I am complete on my own, and when I do meet my special someone, he will also be complete on his own, and together we will live and love side by side, but not "need" each other. "Needing" is not a healthy thing. An emotionally healthy and aware person does not want to be the "reason" their mate is happy, they want their mate to be "independently happy", and for their union to just be an "additional happiness". Ladies- you can't wait to be saved by some knight in shining armor, you must be that knight to yourself (and yes, women are knights too!). Be patient when it comes to love, and just trust that when it's time, it will happen. And don't block yourself off from your soul mate by settling for a substitute "almost love" just because you are scared that your soul mate got lost on his way to find you. Marrying someone just for security, with no love, could be like a slow death of the spirit to some. Its not worth it! Trust me- I have given into my fears before and even convinced myself I was meant to be with someone- only to find out it was a spell meant to enslave me. Breaking away from falsehoods is the most liberating thing ever. Don't be a victim of the brainwashing of fairy tales! Just like Beyonce told Oprah "Have your own life before you marry!". I do believe in laws of attractions- so just know that true love does exist! Be kind too yourself, and take time to care for YOU too! Be your own Valentine- everyday! You are worth it! Coming to New York was the best thing for me. For a decade the city of LA told me true love did not exist- and that women are nothing but objects- and that superficial external security was all that mattered. It hurt to my feelings- but I always kept my faith and knew Mother Life had a plan for me. Even when the media attacked the divine feminine- and sought to destroy the harmonious union of yin and yang energy- I just kept reading my books that told me that love was more powerful then fear- and that I did not have to sign any bogus contract that my heart did not want to! Happy Valentines Day, big bear hugs,and unconditional love always, Ashley

"The Robert Verdi Show" Premieres!

I'm so happy fashionisto Robert Verdi finally has his own show! I met him years ago at Mark Jacob's fashion show after party, and Verdi sure can dress! I saw the premiere episode tonight, and he is so fun and a laughing riot! In his show he aims to not just do fashion related endeavors, but to take over the world!

"Follow the incomparable Robert Verdi as he tries to take over pop culture one product, party and outfit at a time. Sick of living in the shadow of his celebrity clients, he knows he deserves more attention, more money, more fame, more stuff, more stuff, MORE STUFF!!!" - Logo's website


You can see "The Robert Verdi Show Starring Robert Verdi" every Wednesday at 10pm on Logo

"New Music Seminar" event!

Two days after the Grammys in LA, the "New Music Seminar" conference happened in Hollywood. "Some music conferences are for insiders and others are filled with wannabe’s. The New Music Seminar was created by and for music’s revolutionaries." says author Martin Atkins. As the music industry rapidly changes, this conference is vital in educating music professionals in how to keep up with the changing times.

The night before the event an opening night party was held at the famous Key Club on the Sunset strip, where there was also a concert. "Semi Precious Weapons" (based out of NYC) was one of the bands who performed. I had never heard of them before, but I can see they are going to be big stars! They are opening up for Lady Gaga's concert, and in fact, Lady Gaga used to open up for them 5 years ago before she was known. Justin Tranter is the lead singer, and is very over the top and fun, as his band is uber glam-rock. He threw out a T shirt into the crowd and I was lucky enough to jump up like a basketball player and catch it! The shirt had one of the bands popular song titles, "I cant pay my rent, but I'm fucking gorgeous!" That's so struggling artist! :) I was happy to meet American Idol's Adam Lambert at the concert, he's such a rock glam guy like Justin Tranter .

The next day was the day long seminar at the Henry Fonda Theatre. Music execs, artists, experts, etc flew in from all around the world to speak on panels, and learn from the workshops, and it was a very educational and inspirational event. There was also a $25,000 new artist competition, where 3 bands competed, and the audience voted for the winner. The event ended with a cocktail networking reception.

The event keynote speaker was music industry success Tom Silverman (CEO & founder of Tommy Boy records, and one of the founders of the conference). He said, ""Context trumps content every time. People search for meaning."

For more information about this event, which is held multiple times annually in different states around the country, please visit http://www.newmusicseminar.biz

Photos: Top- (American Idols Adam Lambert, Ashley) - Middle photo (Semi Precious Weapon's Justin Tranter)- Bottom photo (some of the organizers and the lead singers of the bands from contest)

EMI Post Grammy Party @ The W Hotel Hollywood

So the week long saga of Grammy madness ended for me at the EMI party at the W Hotel Hollywood. I ran into some friends of mine, and it was great to catch up. I ran into EMI's new artist, Eva Simons was there (and has the coolest hair ever!) with her manager Liz Balog of Stealth Entertainment. Check out Eva's son "Silly Boy" online, it's hot! It was also good for business, as I met some people who are very interested in the projects I am doing in New York. As I went home, I was actually relieved that all these Grammy events are over, because it can be a little overwhelming having to be a 4 places at once for 5 days in a row! But all the running around was worth it to stay in touch with associates and friends, and I know some helpful business and artist collaborating opportunities came of it. I'm so happy that I can go back to NYC, as even though it was a productive few weeks, I know why I left LA in the first place, and those things have not changed, and even if its crazy cold in NYC, my artwork is more appreciated there, so I gotta go!

Bottom Photo (Music manger Liz Balog, singer Eva Simons, Ashley)

Grammy Night! Sony/BMG After Party @ The Beverly Hills Hotel

The most intimate Grammy after party was hosted by Sony/BMG at The Beverly Hills Hotel, with guests such as Beyonce, Jay Z, Ciarra, Usher, Clive Davis, Ke$ha, Solange Knowles, Imogen Heap, (even Wierd Al) and many more. It was held in hotel's "Bar Ninteen 12", which opened up into the lovely patio overlooking a garden. My most interesting conversation was with Imogen Heap. She is such a rare artist, and is 100%of her own making, with no drama or PR stunt attachments or hype. She's just raw talent!

Photos: From top- (Ashley, singer Ke$ha) - 2nd photo - (singer Usher, Ashley)- 3rd- (Ashley, Wierd Al) - 4th - (singer Solange Knowles, Ashley) - 5th - (Ashley, singer Imogen Heap)