Author Archives: Sonya's Spotlight
← Older posts Newer posts →Garden Lights, Holiday Nights And More at Atlanta Botanical Garden
December 19, 2017I got in the Christmas Spirit early this year, thanks to Atlanta Botanical Garden! As one of the first to tour the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s seventh annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, I felt like I was in a Winter Wonderland – basking in the beauty of lights here, lights there, strings of lights everywhere! If you’re needing a Holiday Pick-Me-Up, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden will do wonders for your spirit! “See why Nature’s Wonders us all the buzz!” through January 7. Escape the rat race at the malls this holiday weekend by unwinding at Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, where a massive new woodland display, “Nature’s Wonders,” will immerse you in the holiday spirit. The world’s largest curtain of light, synchronized with music and sound effects, creates the dramatic illusion of ice storms, sunrises, volcanic eruptions and more for a magical, mesmerizing experience like none other! Make it an evening by dining at Longleaf restaurant (reservations recommended). Buy tickets online and save! Reminiscing: My Summer Excursion at Atlanta Botanical Garden UP NEXT Atlanta Botanical Garden Reach for the stars with winter’s favorite plant exhibition Orchid Daze soars to all new heights February 10 – April 1 with towering displays of dazzling orchids that will envelop visitors in tropical warmth, vibrant colors and a fascinating variety of fragrances. Presented in the Fuqua Conservatory and Orchid Center, the annual exhibition complements the country’s largest permanent collection of species orchids with bold, bright flowers and tropical foliage sure to whisk visitors away with a lush wintertime escape. In the Conservatory Lobby, vertical canvases of different sizes spill with living Corsage Orchids, Pansy Orchids and Slipper Orchids looming over visitors, while below carpets of orchids will mirror the patterns on the canvases above. Upon entering the …
Posted in Photos, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentMOLLY’S GAME | IN THEATERS DEC 25
December 2, 2017MOLLY’S GAME is the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe. Molly’s Game (starring Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, and Kevin Costner) is in theaters on Christmas Day, December 25th
Posted in Streaming | Leave a commentSHERRI SHEPHERD TO CO-STAR IN UPCOMING BIOPIC BRIAN BANKS WITH ALDIS HODGE AND GREG KINNEAR
November 25, 2017Actress and Emmy-Award winning former co-host of ABC’s “The View” Sherri Shepherd has joined Aldis Hodge (Underground) and Greg Kinnear to co-star in biopic Brian Banks, directed by Tom Shadyac (Liar Liar, The Nutty Professor, Evan Almighty) for producers Shivani Rawat’s ShivHans Pictures and Amy Baer’s Gidden Media. The biopic tells the story of Banks (Hodge), an All-American high school football player committed to USC by his junior year whose life was upended in 2002 when he was falsely accused of rape. Despite maintaining his innocence, Banks was railroaded through the system and sentenced to a decade of prison and parole. With the help of the California Innocence Project, spearheaded by Justin Brooks (Kinnear), the criminal defense attorney and CIP co-founder, Banks’ conviction was overturned in 2012. He briefly played with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2013 preseason. Shepherd will portray Banks’ mother, Leomia, who was the glue that kept Banks together during his trial. The script was written by Doug Atchison who wrote and directed the critically acclaimed Akeelah and the Bee. The production takes place in Memphis, where Shadyac lives. He will bring in local film students to shadow and learn while he shoots the film. The project was originally developed through Baer’s development fund Gidden Media. She will produce alongside Shivani Rawat and Monica Levinson (ShivHans Pictures) who also financed. Banks, Brooks, Derrick Tseng and Neil Strum are executive producers. Shepherd’s film credits include co-starring with Katherine Heigl in “One for the Money” and with Chris Rock in “Top Five.” Additionally, she has co-starred in such movies as the award-winning “Precious,” “Woodlawn,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa,” “Guess Who,” “Who’s Your Caddy,” “Beauty Shop” and “Ride Along 2,” starring Kevin Hart. Shepherd will begin shooting the second season of NBC sitcom “Trial and Error,” starring John Lithgow in March 2018 where she will reprise her co-starring role as legal secretary “Anne Hatch.” Shepherd is …
Posted in Celebrity Profile | Leave a commentNAACP IMAGE AWARDS WINNER AND BLACK-ISH STAR ANTHONY ANDERSON RETURNS AS HOST FOR THE 49TH NAACP IMAGE AWARDS AIRING LIVE ON TV ONE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY MONDAY, JANUARY 15
November 25, 2017Telecast will also include a Pre-Show Airing Live from the Red Carpet The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and TV One, a television network dedicated to the best of black culture and entertainment, today announced that NAACP Image Awards winner, Emmy-award nominated actor and star of black-ish, Anthony Anderson will return as host for the 49th NAACP Image Awards. As previously announced, the two-hour special will air live on TV One Monday, January 15, 2018, the federal holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The telecast will also include a live pre-show from the star-studded red carpet. In addition, voting is open for the 49th NAACP Image Awards – NAACP “Entertainer of the Year,” the winner will be revealed during the two-hour telecast. The six nominees are: Chadwick Boseman, Ava DuVernay, Bruno Mars, Issa Rae, Chance the Rapper, and Jay-Z. Voting is open to the general public by visiting the NAACP Image Awards website – NAACPImageAwards.net – the only place to vote for the 49th NAACP Image Awards – NAACP “Entertainer of the Year.” Voting closes on Friday, November 17. The NAACP Image Awards is the most respected event of its kind and is well attended by many of the top names in the entertainment industry. In recent years some of the biggest names in film, television and music appeared including Denzel Washington, Oprah, John Legend, Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson, Dwayne Johnson, Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Stevie Wonder, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gina Rodriguez, Chrissy Teigen, Kerry Washington, Nate Parker, Morris Chestnut, Ice Cube, LL Cool J, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tika Sumpter, Keegan-Michael Key, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Tracee Ellis Ross, Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee, Loretta Devine, Shonda Rhimes, Omari Hardwick, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Don Cheadle, Sanaa Lathan, Keke Palmer, Michael Ealy, Ken Jeong, Sylvester Stallone, Terrence Howard, Taraji P. Henson, …
Posted in COWBOY CARTER TOUR- ATLANTA - A NIGHT TO REMEMBER | Leave a commentSheffield Real Estate NEW FYI SERIES PREMIERES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 AT 10PM ET/PT
November 24, 2017Armed with the support of her husband, baseball legend Gary Sheffield, “Sheffield Real Estate” follows Grammy-nominated gospel singer, DeLeon Sheffield and her family as she manages her fast-growing real estate business, all while raising a family. DeLeon and heroutspoken business partner and mother Debbie, help upscale clients find their dream home in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. As a wife, mother to three young boys, and co-owner of a busy and bustling luxury real estate agency, balancing family and a successful career is no easy feat. However, DeLeon handles the chaos with poise, strength and definitely some laughs along the way! In the premiere episode, airing Thursday, November 30 at 10pm ET/PT, professional poker player, John and his fiancé Monique are looking for a home to start a family. With John’s party lifestyle and Monique’s family friendly visions, the house hunt gets tricky. Then at 10:30pm ET/ PT, full-time, professional musicians, Kim and Aaron are looking for a funky, mid-century home with room for a studio space. “Sheffield Real Estate” is produced for FYI by Pink Sneakers and Releve’ Entertainment. About FYI For your inspiration, for your imagination or for your innovation, FYI™ takes a modern spin on traditional lifestyle genres by embracing an adventurous and personalized approach to peoples’ taste, space, look, story and more. FYI covers a range of stories and experiences that reflect how people live their lives today, not defined by just one passion or interest. FYI has launched all-new genres, including trendsetting and brand-definitional series, such as Married at First Sight, Seven Year Switch, Tiny House Nation, He Shed She Shed and Food Porn hosted by Michael Chernow. FYI is a division of A+E Networks, a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation. The network is available in nearly 65 million U.S. homes and is one …
Posted in Inspirational | Leave a commentACTOR KOFI SIRIBOE COVERS ESSENCE MAGAZINE PEOPLE “SEXIEST MAN ALIVE” AND FORBES 30 U 30
November 15, 201723 year old actor Kofi Siriboe has had a HUGE Marquis 2017 year with projects on the big screen, Universal Picture “Girls Trip”, on the small screen OWN’s “Queen Sugar” Season 2 and heralded as one to watch by Hollywood’s dynamic duo, Oprah Winfrey and Ava Duvernay as “The Next Big Thing!”. The magnetic actors stunning Essence Magazine cover has gone viral and is sending shock waves throughout the internet. Dubbed as one of People Magazines “SEXIEST MAN ALIVE”, he has also been honored as one of this years Forbes Magazine’s annual 30 Under 30 list of top artists, musicians, actors and game shakers. Essence Cover Story: https://www.essence.com/news/kofi-siriboe-essence-december-january-cover Siriboe’s career is definitely soaring at a meteoric rate and Kofi responds accordingly; “Thank you to Essence Magazine family for their constant support, thank you to , People Magazine and Forbes for the wonderful recognition, thanks to my fans for showing such a tremendous amount of love always. I’m so very grateful to be able to share my art with the world and to OWN, Universal Pictures and my team for supporting all that I do and coming along this journey with me. I feel so humbled to be selected among the exclusive club of cover male stars, sexiest man alive and 30 under 30. This puts a button on my incredibly amazing 2017 year and I look forward to growing, expanding and evolving with you.” The debut of season one of “Queen Sugar”, witnessed an instantaneous combustion with Siriboe’s character “Ralph Angel” buzzing and trending from week to week on social media. The television audiences response mainly congratulated Kofi for his choice of creating a layered “Black man on television, emoting and thus allowing America to see the humanity in them.” Siriboe further pushed the envelope with his undeniable talent, coupled …
Posted in Music | Leave a commentLarenz Tate (“Power”) and Erica Ash (“Survivor’s Remorse”) To Host 2018 Bounce Trumpet Awards Jan. 20 in Atlanta
November 15, 201726th Annual Event Takes Place Sat. Jan. 20 in Atlanta, World Premieres on Bounce Sun. Feb. 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET Larenz Tate and Erica Ash will host the 2018 Bounce Trumpet Awards, an exciting night of inspiration, history and crowd-rousing performances celebrating African-American achievements and contributions. The gala black-tie ceremony will be held at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia on Sat. Jan. 20, 2018 and will world premiere nationwide on Bounce on Sun. Feb. 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET. Bounce, the fastest-growing African-American network on television, now exclusively owns, produces and telecasts the star-studded event, rebranded this year as the Bounce Trumpet Awards. Honorees, performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.trumpetawards.com for more information. Tate is a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award-winner and currently stars on the hit series “Power” on STARZ. He has also appeared on the popular shows “Rescue Me,” “Game of Silence” and “House of Lies.” On the big screen, Tate most recently appeared in “Girls Trip,” with previous roles in “Ray,” “Menace II Society,” “Love Jones,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and more. Ash is an NAACP Award-winning Broadway, film and television actress currently starring on the hit series “Survivor’s Remorse” on STARZ, as well as playing Brigette Hart (ex-wife of Kevin Hart) on “The Real Husbands of Hollywood.” She will star in the new legal drama series “In Contempt” and will appear in the new theatrical motion picture “Uncle Drew” from Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment. The Trumpet Awards were conceived to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of African Americans and those who have succeeded against great odds and inspired success in others. Founded in 1992 by American Civil Rights leader Xernona Clayton, The Trumpet Awards were acquired by Bounce in 2016. The list of prestigious honorees over its 26-year history includes Muhammad Ali, Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, Halle Berry, Stevie Wonder, The African-American Women of the United States Congress, Steve Harvey, …
Posted in On the Scene, In The Spotlight | 1 CommentJada Pinkett Smith & More Honored at 2017 HBCU Power Awards
October 21, 2017As numerous colleges kicked off their Homecoming festivities, black excellence was front and center at the inaugural HBCU Power Awards presented by Morehouse College, October 20. Hundreds of guests gathered at Martin Luther King Jr International Chapel in Atlanta to celebrate eight individuals who have made significant achievements in their respective fields: actress Jada Pinkett Smith, Coltrane Curtis (founder, Team Epiphany), Kyle Hagler (president, Next Management), Nzinga Shaw (Chief Diversity Officer, Atlanta Hawks), Keinon Johnson (VP, Urban Promotions, Interscope Records), Phylicia Fant (SVP, Publicity, Warner Bros Records), Beverly Anderson (EVP, Cards & Retail Services, Wells Fargo) and Rob Rumley (Chair, Atlanta Housing Authority). Produced by Morehouse alums Derek “Fonzworth Bentley” Watkins (c/o ’96), Jash’d Kambui Belcher (c/o ’99) and Roderick Hardamon (c/o ’98), the HBCU Power Awards was full of exceptional moments: an opening “Swag Surfin’” performance by the Morehouse Glee Club and Horns section; co-host Deon Cole keeping the audience laughing; the crowd singing along to “Focus” during R&B singer H.E.R’s performance; an impromptu stroll in the aisles from an Omega Psi Phi frat; the music by DJ Trauma; Coltrane Curtis’ emotional tribute to his late father; and Jada Pinkett Smith’s moving words on the dynamics of power and the responsibility we all have to manage it wisely. Special guests included producer Will Packer, supermodel Jessica White, actor Michael Jai White, style expert Tai Beauchamp, Atlanta Hawks Foundation EVP David Lee, creative consultant and entrepreneur Taiye Samuel, radio/tv personality Gary “With The Tea” Hayes, singer Dondria Nicole, rapper Silento, author Zane and many more. Many thanks to sponsors Morehouse College, the Atlanta Hawks, Radio One, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley, Experience Grands Rapids and the Lowman Group/ dba the Athletes Foot. MORE PHOTOS Photo Credit Marcus Ingram
Posted in COWBOY CARTER TOUR- ATLANTA - A NIGHT TO REMEMBER, In The Spotlight | Leave a commentCivil Rights Icon Dr. Joseph Lowery’s 96th Birthday Celebration
October 6, 2017Gospel Great Yolanda Adams Performed at 96th Birthday Celebration for Civil Rights Icon Dr. Joseph Lowery “Think Like A Man” producer, Will Packer; pastor and activist, Reverend Dr. William Barber; and attorney, Angela Rye; were among the honorees. Sonya’s Spotlight Publisher Catches up with Dr. Lowery and a few guests. Five-time gospel Grammy winner, Yolanda Adams and Emmy Award winning actor, Keith David, the star of OWN’s megachurch drama “Greenleaf,” were featured entertainers on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, when celebrities, dignitaries and activists from around world descended upon Atlanta to pay tribute to the “dean” of the Civil Rights Movement, Dr. Joseph Lowery, for his 96th birthday celebration. “Think Like A Man” producer, Will Packer; pastor and activist, Reverend Dr. William Barber; and attorney, Angela Rye; were among the honorees for the evening hosted by the Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice & Human Rights (Lowery Institute). A musical extravaganza, the reception, gala and after-party were held at The Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University. The musical tribute, produced by Kenneth Green, highlighted milestones in Dr. Lowery’s lifelong commitment to the nonviolent fight for voting rights, economic equality and social justice. Nearly 100 of the Lowery Institute’s Change Agents took part in the program to let Dr. Lowery know that his legacy is secure with them. Change Agents are college students trained at the Lowery Institute then assigned to elementary, middle and high schools to teach the principles of nonviolence coupled with conflict management and social and self-awareness. Lowery says, in their respective areas, the honorees epitomize the theme of the event, Grounded in History: Soaring Towards the Future. “They understand the nexus between our past and our future. Will Packer is not only telling our stories, he is committed to employing and uplifting people …
Posted in On the Scene | 1 CommentCongressional Black Caucus Annual Conference 2017 – “And Still I Rise”
October 1, 2017The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) kicked off the 47th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), September 20-24, 2017 in the Nation’s Capitol. This year’s Annual Legislative Conference theme, “And Still I Rise,” highlighted key events and activities including the highly-anticipated National Town Hall, focusing on, ‘Fighting the Systemic Destruction of our Civil Rights”; the Prayer Breakfast, headlined by Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Pastor Shirley Caesar and feature keynote speaker Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr.; the Phoenix Awards dinner featuring keynote speaker Dr. Michael Eric Dyson; and a host of forums and sessions with topics including civic engagement, civil rights, foreign affairs and national security, and CBCF core pillars: education, health and wellness, economic empowerment and the environment. Enjoy a few photos via Sonya Jenkins and facebook.com/CBCFInc. More Photos from Sonya Jenkins in the Authors Pavilion and the National Newspaper Publishers Association Soirée. Check out more Authors Pavilion Photos Here: http://sonyasspotlight.com/sonyajenkinsauthorspavilioncbc/ ABOUT ALC The ALC is the leading policy conference on issues impacting African Americans and the global black community. The conference features nearly 100 public policy forums on health, education, economic empowerment, the environment, and more. Signature events and features include the National Town Hall, Celebration of Leadership in Fine Arts, Community Breakfast and Health Fair, Gospel Extravaganza, Black Party, Prayer Breakfast, Exhibit Showcase, and the culminating event, the Phoenix Awards Dinner. This year’s theme, “And Still I RISE” reflects a legacy of resilience that emphasizes the collective strength of the black community to rise above continued racial inequalities. Sign up to receive the e-newsletter and follow the CBCF on social media using hashtag, #CBCFALC17 for updates. Sign up to receive the e-newsletter and follow the CBCF on social media using hashtag, #CBCFALC17 for updates. Twitter: twitter.com/CBCFInc Facebook: facebook.com/CBCFInc Instagram: instagram.com/CBCFInc LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/congressional-black-caucus-foundation Google: google.com/+CBCFIn YouTube: …
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