FASHION ROYALITY--Demeatria Boccella, Pat Cleveland Deborah Riley Draper and Mikki Taylor

I hope you didn’t miss it but if you did let me tell you about it.
On March 3, at the August Wilson Center hundreds witnessed the Pittsburgh debut of Versailles ’73, American Runway Revolution, directed by Deborah Riley Draper.
The film follows the iconic fashion effrontery at the Chateau de Versailles on November 28, 1973 between five American designers- Anne Klein, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta and Halston – and five French designers- Yves St. Laurent, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Cardin, and Emanuel Ungaro.
The events beginnings as a fundraiser orchestrated by fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert to raise money to restore the Palace of Versailles became a fierce competition. America with great clothes and color barrier breaking collective of Black models who sashayed the runway, won over the crowd and secured American fashion’s place on the world stage.
The Black models who awed the international set and changed fashion: Billie Blair, Jennifer Brice, Norma Jean Darden, Charlene Dash, Bethann Hardison, Barbara Jackson, China Machado, Ramona Saunders, Amina Warsuma and Pat Cleveland. Mikki Taylor, Cleveland and Draper were in Pittsburgh for the debut. It was a fantastic night.
If you missed it and want to see the film please go to www.versailles73movie. This is a piece of fashion history

I recently had the occasion to show off my city. To lay the foundation I began the tour at the Senator John Heinz History Center. I wanted my friend to see the stainless steel car that is on display on the first floor. This is a person who owns nearly a dozen cars and I knew they had never seen a car made of stainless steel up close and personal. They were impressed.
We moved into the current exhibit at the center, which is “1968: The Year That Rocked America.” Presented by UPMC Health Plan, the exhibit chronicles the pivotal year in U.S. history that saw assertions of Black Power at the Olympic Games, the national launch of Pittsburgh-produced “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” stardom for Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, the debut of locally made cult classic “Night of the Living Dead,” and the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The year began with the Tet Offensive, the deadliest period of an increasingly divisive Vietnam War, and ended with hope for the future, as the Apollo 8 capsule beamed back images of “Earthrise” from the far side of the moon for the first time.
Nearly a dozen interactive video presentations and more than 100 evocative artifacts that explore how the year 1968 helped shape our modern world are featured. You can explore the sights and sounds of ‘68, including:
•Original set and several puppets from “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” on public display for the first time outside of the WQED studios
•20-foot Bell UH-1H “Huey” helicopter used in the Vietnam War—the largest item ever displayed inside a History Center exhibition
•Video footage from Dr. Martin Luther King’s final public speech and items from King’s funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church, including the communion plate, microphone and program.
I really enjoyed the interactive segment; we watched clips of television shows from that era and sang along with each theme song. If you go please go beyond the first floor and visit the entire history center, even if you have been there before. You always see something that you didn’t see before, especially if you see it through someone else’s eyes.
I used to work at the history center and many things have changed since I was a member of the Stages in History acting company.  I loved showing off Pittsburgh, our Incline and universities. We had Sunday Brunch at Savoy and had a wonderful time.
In the meantime mark your calendars for March 9, at the Homewood Coliseum, Kings & Queens Mardi Gras Quesnino 2013, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. This is always a good time.  I wish more people would dress for the occasion. It would be great to see more masks, costumes and that Mardi Gras feeling from the guests.  
On March 23, BASH will hold their annual fashion show and Scholarship luncheon at the Double Tree in Greentree. Yours truly will present an eclectic fashion show “Add A little Bling.” The show will feature items that you can walk away with at a great price. Can you believe an evening dress for $5? Visit www.BASHFORWOMEN.COM for more information.

CHAMPION—Champion Enterprises and Five Starr Corporation CEO Bill Neal welcomes former 3-time World Heavyweight boxing champion Michael Moorer to the Willie Stargell Awards Banquet.

The 37th Annual Willie “Pops’” Stargell Memorial MVP Awards Banquet was hosted and presented by Champion Enterprises and Five Starr Corporation, along with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chuck Sanders Charities.
This year’s event was truly “The Nite of the Champions” as former three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and Monessen native Michael Moorer was honored for his great career.
Twenty-five others were honored as some of Western Pittsburgh’s Most Valuable Persons, including Pittsburgh Courier’s own Ulish Carter and Eric Gaines. Others honored included coaches Terry and Harvey Smith, Master Jacquet Bazemore, keyboardist Kevin Howard, AAWU President Calvin Clinton, former Pittsburgh Steeler Wes Lyons and 10 of the area’s top student athletes from various high schools.
The evening was taken to another level by the powerful voice of Yolanda Barber and the spectacular co-hosting of Pittsburgh entrepreneur Kevin Cameron and actress Rita Gregory.
Bill Neal, Five Star Corporation CEO,  said, “Special thanks goes out to event co-sponsors Art Hawk and the 3 Lakes Golf Course, Frank B. Fuhrer Co, the Penn Ave. McDonalds, The Savoy Restaurant and Curtis Aiken, The New Pittsburgh Courier, KDKA-TV and of course none of it would have been possible without the Champions executive staff and the many volunteers.” 

GOLDEN SORORS—Patricia English, Lee Nicklos, Della Hale, Doris Brevard and Mildred Glenn. Each has celebrated more than 50 years in AKA.

According to Webster’s Dictionary the word unsung is used to define someone who is not celebrated or praised.
On Feb. 22, at the Lemont Restaurant the Ivy Charitable Endowment of Pittsburgh Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (Alpha Alpha Omega Chapter) presented their Founders’ Day Community Awards Reception: Unsung Heroes. Guest enjoyed a beautiful view, divine hors devourers and a well-organized program. ICE President Delphina Briscoe and Christina Wilds, chapter president, welcomed the crowd and Great Lakes Regional Director Charlene Truitt Nelson was in town to greet sorors, friends and Unsung Heroes. Delphina Briscoe and Carol Brackett (ICE, vice president) presented awards to some of Pittsburgh’s best and brightest.
The Unsung Heroes of education were Linda S. Lane, Ed.D., superintendent, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Mark Brentley Sr., board of directors, Pittsburgh Public Schools; Gail Edwards, PhD, principal and CEO, Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School.
In the field of health Kathy Mayle Towns, dean of nursing at the Community College of Allegheny County, was honored as well as Wilford Payne, executive director of PCHA Inc.-Alma Illery Medical Center.
In the humanities, Mildred E. Morrison, administrator Allegheny County Department of Human Services Area Agency on Aging, and Cecelia Jenkins, executive director of Pittsburgh Community Services Inc. were honored.
Unsung Heroes the Arts were Patrice Wade Johnson, M.Ed, screenplay writer/author) and Janera Solomon executive director of the Kelly Strayhorn Theater.
In the field of business, Theodore R. Vasser III, director, Pupil Transportation for the Pittsburgh Public Schools was honored as well as K. Chase Patterson, president and CEO of Corporate Diversity Associates, LLC.
On this night there was no lack of celebration and heartfelt praise.