By Florence Anthony
Yours Truly is back in the Big Apple after two whirlwind weekends with Cadillac in Miami and most recently in Los Angeles, where I joined the luxury car
brand as they presented the BET Awards. Since I have been chauffeured around in Escalades and SRX’s, I am now suffering withdrawal back on the New York
City Transit System and in cabs. Meanwhile, from West Hollywood to Beverly Hills to downtown, the BET Awards took over Los Angeles last weekend. My great
time started out with a Cadillac Welcome Media dinner at the “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” restaurant Villa Blanca. The next day, we were treated to a
Cadillac Conversations brunch with top GM execs Vivian Pickard, who runs the Cadillac Foundation as well as Don Butler, the Vice President
for Strategic Development for Cadillac. Beyonce was also in town on Friday night where she performed a sold-out concert at the BET
Experience. Saturday night, Debra Lee, the Network’s chairman and CEO threw the pre-BET Awards 13 soiree at MILK studios. Nelly, a cast member on BET’s “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” showed off his comedic skills as the night’s emcee. The crowd went crazy when
he introduced the night’s surprise performer, Sheila E. The weekend culminated with one of the best BET Awards shows ever. After Cadillac
presented a Lifetime Achievement Award to Charlie Wilson, he put on a stellar performance with S noop Dogg, Justin Timberlake and Pharrell. It was a weekend I will never forget.
Speaking of Nelly, the rapper and his entourage sat at the table next to GM Diversity Grassroots Director Jocelyn allen
and our crew at Maestro’s Steak House in Beverly Hills following the awards. Although he was rolling with his homeboys, Nelly was spotted with “The Game”
actress Lashontae Heckard as they hit up various BET Awards festivities together. Following dining at Maestro’s, Nelly headed over to Jamie Foxx’s After Party at the Oscar winner’s house in Sherman Oaks. Taking a break from fatherly duties, Kanye West was
also at the bash. Other chicsters having a good time included Brian McKnight, Tichina Arnold, Garcelle Beauvais, T.I., Angie Stone and Snoop Dogg.
Brad Pitt’s
World War Z’s
global appeal continues ranking as the number one film world wide this weekend with $100 million in grosses. The film has now earned $263 million at the
world wide box office after ten days in release. From Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions in association with Hemisphere Media Capital and GK
Films, World War Z grossed a stunning $70.1 million at the international box office this weekend to bring the international cume to a stellar
$135.3 million. Domestically, the film earned $29.8 million in its second weekend with a cume to date of $123.7 million. The international roll-out of World War Z continues next week with France with additional territories, including Spain and Japan, opening later in the summer.
Additional casting has been announced for the upcoming Broadway production of “Romeo and Juliet,” starringOrlando Bloom and Condola Rashad, as Shakespeare’s titular star-crossed lovers, and directed by five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux. Christian Carmajo, Roslyn Ruff, Justin Guarini, Conrad Kemp, Corey Hawkins and Geoffrey Owens have all been added to the
cast. This version of the classic tale will have a modern setting in which members of the Montague family will be white, and the Capulet family will be
black. “Romeo and Juliet” opens at Broadway’s Richard Rodgers Theatre on Thursday, September 19, following preview performances from Saturday, August 24.
Leave a Comment