National Coalition for Shelter Hosts Event at Mauboussin

Ashley NYC, marketing guru & socialista Susan Shin, Beata Boman(fashion designer)



I was invited by my friend Kathleen to an event at Mauboussin on Madison Avenue. It was a really fun party, which helped raise awareness for the National Coalition for Shelter.

Kathleen Giordano tells us, "I, along with everyone at Mauboussin on Madison Avenue, braved the inclement weather conditions to support NCS. The National Coalition for Shelter is a fabulous organization. It was established in 1982 by religious and community leaders zeroing in on the homelessness primarily on the Upper East Side of the Manhattan. Their premise is strong: it is the responsibility of the entire community. NCS offers an assortment of programs such as, housing, counseling and substance abuse treatment, employment, and educational programs. Their initiatives and support continue to transform the lives of so many people!!"

w/ social butterfly Dawne Marie Grannum

Ashley NYC, Katheen Giordano(stylist, reality TV star), Muyinot A. Raji (Event Consultant/Designer)

Natacha Horn (artist, multi-media), Dovanna Pagowski
Muyinot A. Raji, Matt Semino, Esq., Linette Semino

Dawne Marie Grannum Hosts "Brunch with Friends" at Sarabeth's in Lord & Taylor

(L-R)Jean Shafiroff, Dawne Marie Grannum, Ashley NYC, Joy Marks

I had the most lovely brunch yesterday with the most friendly and eclectic group of New York ladies. Last year I had the privilege of meeting NYC social butterfly, Dawne Marie Grannum, who is as beautiful on the inside as she is out. Since then we’ve become pals. Dawne really likes to live life to the fullest, working hard in the day in Risk Management, but making sure to be fabulous and have fun at some of New York’s most stylish events and parties. We have some mutual friends, and after attending her brunch gathering, I now have more friends. It was really a great way to start off the New Year. Most of my closest girlfriends live in Southern California where I am from, so it was a treat to spend time with new friends.

The brunch was at New Yorkers favorite brunch chain, Sarabeth’s, and the location was at Lord & Taylors! I felt like I was on an episode of Sex & the City: eating a gourmet brunch adjacent to some the most fashionable clothes and shoes that Lord & Taylor is known for!

One of the divas in attendance was New York social personality, stylist and TV reality star from “Single in the City”, Kathleen Giordano. I asked her to reflect on the experience, and she tells us:

“Who says New Year's Eve has to be celebrated on December 31st? Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a New Year's gathering at Lord and Taylor's Sarabeth's Restaurant on Fifth Avenue. This was a fabulous and cozy celebration of the most magnificent and talented women around the city. Our beautiful and gracious hostess, Dawne Marie Grannum, came up with this amazing idea for her friends to meet, network, laugh, rejoice and ring in the New Year with mimosas and smoothies! I, along with a handful of others, actually closed the restaurant down at 4:30 p.m........yes, you read it right the first time....4:30 p.m. and not a.m.! It was an incredibly fun time had by all. Thank you Dawn Marie and I wish you a very Happy Happy New Year full of love, fun, health and beautiful memories!!! “

Here’s to 2011, which is all about making new friends!

Standing:L-R: Joy Marks, Carolyn Thornquist, Samantha Park, Lisa Yom, Shannon Hales, Vevlyn Wright, Anna Kuchma, Ashley Sousa, Muyinot Raji, Kathleen Giordano, Saleda Bryant, Dorothy Joseph, Jean Griffin, Amber De Vos Seated:L-R:Sabrina Wirth, Bianca Kawecki, Dawne Marie Grannum, Jean Shafiroff, Emily Feinstein
(L-R) Emily Feinstein, Dorothy Joseph, Ashley NYC, Tanya SooHoo, Sabrina Wirth (L-R) Muyinot Raji, Saleda Bryant, Ashley NYC, Sabrina Wirth, Dawne Marie Grannum, Lisa Yom

(L-R) Jean Shafiroff, Robin Kearse, Kathleen Giordano

(L-R) Lisa Yom, Muyinot Raji, Saleda Bryant, Ashley, Samantha Park
(L-R) Chef Brian Donnelly, Jasmine Fourquet, Nidhi Nandwani, Dawne Marie Grannum, Mahmooda (last name?), Stephen Jacobsen, Christopher Lodge
Dawne always wears the cutest shoes, she's so Carrie Bradshaw!
All the ladies who attended recieved a lovely gift bag from Dawne, which included a signed copy of Alexandra Lebenthal's new book "The Recessionistas"! (I'm loving it so far, good read!)

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.