Recap: The Secret Life of Bees Premiere

Last night I attended the DC premiere for The Secret Life of Bees, a wonderful yet unusual story about how we live on after love is taken away from us. Set in a historic period, 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, this film, written by Sue Monk Kidd and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood (whose Herve Leger dress last night was FLY), is a timely and necessary reminder of how far (far is relative) we've come.

A reception held afterward in the lobby of the Newseum (Haven't been? Check out my recap!) mixed the Hill with Hollywood. The stars of the movie Queen Latifah (who did a quick change but eventually joined the reception), Sophie Okendo (whose performance was inspiring), Dakota Fanning (who had on the most to-die-for shoes that night), Nate Parker (who had me disgustingly nervous like I was in grade school or something...the man is fine) and cutie pie Tristan Wilds (who I lied to when I said I felt like we were close 'cuz I'm from Baltimore and I'm a big fan of The Wire...I ain't no fan of The Wire). Jennifer Hudson didn't stay for the reception and seemed a bit distant all day, sources say. Perhaps her mind is on her man...

Good times...I want to write a book turned movie...one day y'all! :)

CBC Events: Thursday Night

Thanks to Dave and Ray, the party will be at Shadow Room (2131 K Street NW) tonight. It's free before 11 PM if you RSVP here. I don't expect a lot of Congress people to be there but you might find the 21+ college/young professional crowd here...the up and comers.

The Secret Life of Bees movie premiere, the film featuring Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning and Alicia Keys will premiere tonight in DC at the Newseum.

HBCU Alumni welcome the CBC at Lotus (1420 K Street NW). RSVP here to get in free all night. The party goes until 2 AM.

Congresswomen Yvette Clark, Donna Edwards and Laura Richardson are hosting a reception called "The Sistahood: East Coast Meets West Coast" tonight at the National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 NY Ave. NW) from 8-Midnight. RSVP here by 3 PM.

Pic Recap: Jennifer Hudson Performs at Newseum

Hostesses Diane Sawyer and Robin Roberts check out J. Hud's new engagement ring. (Y'all hear she's engaged to Punk from I Love New York? Is anybody else thinking what I'm thinking...."I thought he was gayyyy...."

The New Newseum: A Virtual Tour

The Newseum (555 Penn. Ave. NW) is DC's most exciting museum opening in a very long time. The Smithsonian projects have obviously set the standard, but the Newseum is definitely keeping up.

I got a chance to take a sneak peek of the museum before it's opening on Friday, April 11. On Friday, the Newseum is free all day (regular cost is $20) and Good Morning America will be broadcasting live at the museum. So be there on Friday at 7 AM to get your time to shine...

Pics from my good ole camera phone:

(Photo: The view of the museum from Pennsylvania Avenue)

(Photo: The First Amendment, an empowering document for journalists is engraved on the outside of the Newseum)

(Photo: This is one of the most moving exhibits in the Newseum. I seriously welled up...it's the 9/11 Gallery. This was an antenna atop of one of the towers.)

(Photo: The 9/11 Gallery includes the front pages of newspapers around the globe about the terrorist attacks. Boxes of Kleenex are in this exhibit for visitors who need it...one woman was definitely crying next to me. Yes, it's that moving.) 

(Photo: Thanks to Chris Wells of the Freedom Forum, the Newseum is the new house of the Berlin Wall...this was really a treat to see! Yes, I'm a dork...hate it or luuuuv it!)

(Photo: Some other early visitors take a tour while learning about the Berlin Wall...aww the babies!)

(Photo: A tribute to some of the best funnies hangs right near the food court, which looks like your everyday cafeteria)

(Photo: This exhibit highlights some of the best photos that have won the Pulitzer Prize. Did y'all know the Washington Post just won 6 Pulitzers???) 

(Photo: This studio, the Pennsylvania Avenue Studio will be home to ABC's George Stephanopoulos' show every week)

(Photo: This is an interactive museum that lets you create the news!)

(Photo: A "reporter" in one of the many studios that let you become the talking heads you see on TV each night)

(Photo: The Knight studio)

(Photo: Today, NPR's Talk of the Nation filmed their radio show live from the Knight Studio)

My favorite part of the Newseum is close to my heart. The News Corp. News History Gallery houses a very thorough collection of newspapers throughout history. I looked in awe at the yellowed newspapers thinking to myself, "Wow...I can't believe someone cared enough to keep all of this stuff!" And for any writer it's inspiring and empowering to know that your voice matters...that you weren't just a blip in time. 

Still, I remembered my own history and how my great-grandfather and his brother, Carl and John H. Murphy Sr. started a newspaper of their own, The Afro American Newspaper in Baltimore, MD a looong, looooong time ago...they couldn't possibly have this newspaper in the Newseum...oh but they did. I literally almost cried...to know that we weren't forgotten in history and that someone cared enough to include us.

I luvvvv the Newseum! Go see for yourself on Friday! :)