California girl Ashley runs away from her home in LA to go to The Big Apple to find inspiration for her writing. With a background in entertainment public relations, journalism & activism in social issues and politics, mixed with her quest for spiritual enlightenment, she throws herself into the center of all facets of New York City culture, & starts a blog, "Ashley and New York".
(2nd left to right) Michel, Ben Jealous, Rev. Jacqueline J, Lewis, PH.D.
with super stylist Patricia Field
Aubree Greenberger and Adam Charles Greenberger
with DJ Roxy (center) and her sister (left)
Valerie Polanco, Lower East Side Girls Club (left), Latasha Wright, Director of Bio Base (front center), writer and singer Isabel Celeste (back center), Ashley NYC (right)
Valerie Gamache CEO of Shock RA Entertainment and activist (left) and Andre Robinson, Executive Producer for Carbon-Fibre Media (right)
(L-R) Carmen Barrie, opera singer Alyson Cambridge, designer Gilles Mendel, Ashley NYC
Last night I went to TOWN & COUNTRY's and J. Mendel's holiday party held at Mendell's Madison Avenue store, which benefited the Dia Art Foundation. The event was hosted by designer Gilles Mendel, Alexandra Kotur (Town & Country's Creative Director) and Nathalie de Gunzburg (Chairman of Dia Art Foundation). It was a festive affair filled with fabulous dressed fashionistas, over flowing champagne and holiday cheer!
One of my favorite opera stars, Alyson Cambridge, graced the event and we had a great conversation about issues we both were familiar with, such as us both being biracial and multi-cultural. She's as intelligent as she is talented.
Alyson Cambridge tells Ashley and New York:
"I have always been an admirer of J. Mendel gowns and was thrilled to be invited and attend this evening's event. As an opera singer and never at a loss for events, concerts, or occasions to wear beautiful clothes, I have come to J. Mendel for some of my most favorite gowns! One of my best memories was wearing a J. Mendel canary yellow, tulip-like, plush gown I wore from the 2011 spring collection for two concerts -- in San Francisco and Beijing. When I walked onstage, the gasp from the audience was audible! As a performer, you want to come to the stage not only with your voice and beautiful music, but also with an unforgettable and powerful presence that the audience will remember and cherish as part of the experience. Gilles' gowns are so elegantly impactful -- stunning in their structure, design, fabrication, color, and pure 'wow' factor."
Alyson Cambridge dressed in a J. Mendell gown (mentioned above) backstage following her 2010 San Francisco Symphony performance
(L-R) Gilles Mendel, Alexandra Kotur, Nathalie de Gunzburg, Philippe Vergne - - (photo credit Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com)
(L-R) Lei Xi, Peggy Liu, Ashley NYC
(photo by Joe Schildhorn of the Billy Farrell Agency)
Atmosphere of holiday party (photo by Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc.com)
Alyson Cambridge as 'Julie' in Show Boat at Lyric Opera of Chicago, 2012
Alyson Cambridge has quite a year ahead in 2013!
In 2013 Cambridge returns to Washington National Opera as 'Julie' in Showboat, will be a soloist for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for a national TV and radio broadcast and debuts the role of ‘Vi’ in Gershawn’s“jazz-opera” Blue Monday at New York City’s legendary Cotton Club. She also records her second CD featuring jazz and crossover favorites from the American Songbook, will embark on a multi-city solo concert tour in China and will begin a run of engagements of her celebrated role of 'Mimi' in La boheme in London, San Diego, Washington and beyond.
For Alyson’s schedule and further announcments, and as they are allowed to be made public, please visit her website for details: www.AlysonCambridge.com
Spike Lee's family pose with Sherry and Hannah Bronfman
Spike Lee accepts award
with Tonya Lewis Lee (R) and Spencer Means (L)
On December 12thThe Museum of Modern Art’s 2012
Jazz Interlude Gala honored artist, activist and filmmaker Spike Lee and philanthropists
Mera and Donald Rubell. The night started with a cocktail reception in the
museum. It was followed by a delicious benefit dinner with live music by jazz
musician Terence Blanchard, whose music actually has been featured in numerous
Spike Lee films. The evening ended with an after-party with dessert, dancing
and great music by jazz artist Jason Moran and the Bandwagon. The 2012 Jazz
Interlude event chair was Sherry Bronfman, with co-chairs Eboni S Gates and
Noel Hankin.
I have always been a fan of Spike Lee’s bold and social justice
themed films. Lee never shies away from calling a spade and spade and uses his
platform to shine a light on causes that matter to him. Lee’s beautiful wife
Tonya Lewis Lee and their incredibly stylish children, Satchel and Jackson,
attended the event as well.
(L-R) Tonya Lewis Lee, Satchel Lee, Jackson Lee
with Paper Magazine's Kim Hastreiter
with Humberto Petit (right) and Ruthard C. Murphy (center left)
(L-R) Kevin G. Chavers, novelist Ginger McKnight-Chavers, Ashley NYC, Wayne Winborne
The Prudential Foundation's Lata N. Reddy
Sheree Whitfield
Sherry Bronfman and Hannah Bronfman, Tonya Lewis Lee and Satchel Lee
Last night I had a life changing time at the Louise Blouin Foundation (LBF) Awards Ceremony honoring leaders from around the world who have demonstrated exceptional creative achievement. The United Nations General Assembly is happening right now in New York City, and a lot of needed debates are happening. The UN really has the platform to heal a lot of wounds in this world, and I am hopeful that they will get more aggressive in doing so. At the LBF gala, Former Prime Minister Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen, and Industrial designer Bruce Mau were honored. Bhutto, who was assassinated on Dec. 27, 2007, “was concerned with not only the clash of civilizations between East and West but within Islam itself. She fought for democracy, human rights, and the role of women in society, as well as respect for religion, technology, and modernity”. She is a martyr, and knew that returning to her homeland could cost her her life, but she felt the needs of her people were more important, and she fearlessly did so much for her community. Her husband accepted the award for her, and we were able to meet him, as well as many people from different countries. It was very inspirational to be in a room with so many different cultures, all wanting the world to be a better place. I interviewed Jasmine Plummer, who works for the Louise Blouin Foundation (see live interview below). I know a lot of people who work for the UN, and I am considering doing some volunteer work for them. There’s a big world out there, and we all need to come together and save this world before we ruin it anymore then we have.
On Sunday, September 13, MTV held it's Video Music Awards. I went to one of the after parties, hosted by In Touch Magazine. It was at St Bart's Church. That's right, a party was actually held at a church, which was actually a very liberating experience! In the Bible it says its wrong to drink and let loose in a church like everyone was, but I think spirituality should totally be about celebration! Church should not be about judgments and condemning, it should be about living life, honoring artwork and making music! So I did not feel guilty that I had my go go shorts on and drinking champagne! My heart was in in the right place, and that's all that's matters! DJ Sam Ronson was the DJ, followed by her brother, Mark Ronson. I saw Sam backstage, with Santigold (who performed at the party). We three took a pic together, after which Sam said I was the only person she smiled for in a picture. Awww...so sweet. Keep on smiling Sam, you have such an adorable smile!I ran into a few NYC acquaintances from the past, which was perfect, for in this town, one needs friends!
Saturday night was the party to celebrate the premiere of CW’s show “The Beautiful Life”, starring Micha Barton and Corbin Bleu. It was held at Abe and Arthur’s “Simyone’s Lounge”, owned by Mark Birnbaum (the cutest venue owner ever!) and Co. (EMM to be exact). The Beautiful Life “is a show that revolves around a group of models living together in a co-ed residence in New York”. It was a fun party! I ran into Richie Rich (former designer of “Heatherette”). My friend knew some of the actors who are starring in the new movie coming out “Fame”, as in the song “We’re gonna live forever; they’re gonna remember my name… Fame!” We then went to Def Jam’s pre MTV Video Music Awards Party. The hip hop music played in NYC parties is off the hook!
