New York Women in Film and TV Holds 2017 MUSE AWARDS: Honored Were Laura Dern, Judith Light, Amy Emmerich, Julie Dash, Regina K Scully, Alysia Reiner

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

The New York Women in Film and Television held its annual MUSE AWARDS at the New York Hilton on Thursday, December 14, 2017 in New York City. On what was probably the coldest day so far in the New York City this winter, the crowded room was warm with the solidarity of women determined to cheer each other on and make this year the start of a significant change for women.

In this year, the 40th anniversary of  #NYWIFT, the 2017 Muse Awards for Vision and Achievement honored Laura Dern, actor, Amy Emmerich Chief Content Officer for Refinery 29, Julie Dash, Director (who recieved the Nancy Malone Directing Award), and Regina K. Scully, filmmaker and CEO Artemis Rising Foundation, who received the Loreen Arbus Changemaker Award presented by Loreen Arbus.

The Time is NOW for Time's Up: New Coalition Seeks to Change and Defend the Culture of Sexual Harrassment, Reese Withersppon, Eva Longoria, America Ferrera and Growing List of Hollywood Powers Move for Real Change

Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, America Ferrara, Shonda Rhimes, Attorneys Nina Shaw and Tina Tchen, are among hundreds of women who have formed Time's Up to battle sexual harassment and promote equality in the workplace. 

By Suzanne Ordas Curry - Sexual harassment transcends all disciplines and careers. Soon after the Harvey Weinstein news broke and the avalanche started, a group of Hollywood women received a letter of solidarity from the Alliance of Farm Workers which in part stated:

"We do not work under bright stage lights or on the big screen. We work in the shadows of society in isolated fields and packinghouses that are out of sight and out of mind for most people in this country. Your job feeds souls, fills hearts and spreads joy. Our job nourishes the nation with the fruits, vegetables and other crops that we plant, pick and pack.

View: A Jewish Mom/Writer Confesses to Her Christmas Envy and Why She Watches All Those Hallmark Christmas Movies - More Gingerbread Men Please and Hold the Muddy Hooves

By Beth Abramson Brier

Hallmark Christmas Movies. Once considered the very definition of “guilty pleasure”, this year it is reclassified as a necessary euphoric escape from the news of raging wildfires, Matt Lauer, Russia-gate and mystery Oreos (Fruity Pebbles?  Eww!)  For the last three weeks I have been binge watching and reviewing so many movies my head feels as light as spun sugar.  Full disclosure - I am Jewish.  So why my obsession with Christmas movies?  It comes down to two words: Christmas Envy.  That’s right.   I said it.  Christmas Envy.  Or, to be more accurate Christmas Tree Envy.  Christmas Cookie Envy.  Christmas Movie Envy.

Event: Saturday Night Live Cast Members Cecily Strong, Kyle Mooney & Vanessa Bayer Team up for Comedy Fundraiser for ACLU in NYC December 18, Also appearing John Early, Robbie Fulks & More

Funny Lady Cecily Strong to Appear at NYC Benefit

LOL as cast members and writers of Saturday Night Live t come together for a night of laughs and music to benefit the ACLU at The Town Hall on Monday December 18 at 8pm.  100% of the ticket sales of the “Comedy Fundraiser for the ACLU” will be donated to the ACLU.

Hosted by John Early (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Search Party) the evening features SNL cast members Cecily Strong, Kyle Mooney and the 2017 Emmy nominee Vanessa Bayer; the SNL writers Julio Torres and Jeremy Beiler, and writer and actor Jon Glaser of Delocated, and Jon Glaser Loves Gear). The evening’s musical special guest is Chicago alternative country-rocker Robbie Fulks, a 2017 Grammy nominee.

Event: Shop for a Cause with Same Sky Jewelry and meet Special Guest Actress Sarah Megan Thomas

Hallmark Holiday Movie Review: Christmas List with Alicia Witt, Peter Benson - Should it be on your Christmas Bucket List?

By Beth Abramson Brier

Name: Christmas List

Logline:  Isobel, a fashion designer living in San Diego, plans the perfect Christmas holiday in the snowy Northwest with her boss/boyfriend Brett.  When Brett is delayed by a business meeting, Gabriel, the local builder cum volunteer fireman cum toy store owner, is more than happy to help make Isobel’s Christmas “bucket list” dreams come true.   

Starring:  Alicia Witt as Isobel; Peter Benson as the hunky boyfriend who rocks a plaid flannel shirt; and Jamie Houghton as the too wholesome townie. 

What's to Like about it: All of the holiday traditions are wrapped up in this one movie- caroling, ice skating, gingerbread houses, real trees with twinkly lights, mistletoe and the Christmas concert (of course).

Christmas Movie Review: Hallmark's A Perfect Christmas with Susan Abromeit and Dilon Casey: Why Should You Watch This Newlywed Couple Celebrate Their First Christmas?

By Beth Abramson Brier

Name:  A Perfect Christmas

Logline: A newlywed couple celebrating their first Christmas try to make everything perfect for their visiting families. 

Starring:  Susan Abromeit as Cynthia Faber; Dilon Casey as Steve Faber and Erin Gray as Patricia Faber.

What's to Like about It 

Cynthia and Steve have such good intentions that I couldn’t help but cheer them along.  As their families arrive one by one for Christmas they are bringing not just their own bags but their own baggage.  It is a heartfelt reminder that “the best laid plans..” 

Tainted Dreams, The Emmy-Nominated Soap Series on Amazon by Sonia Blangiardo Premieres Season 2 December 2017: Alicia Minshew, Austin Peck, Michael Lowry, Jessie Godderz, RHONJ Dina Manzo, Anthony Wilkinson Star Along With Iconic Soap Cast

(Press Release) New York City - December 2017 - Romance, intrigue, manipulation…and a little bit of humor.  Just a taste of what’s to come as the Second Season of the Emmy-nominated series Tainted Dreams kicks off and fans finally get resolution from Season One's gripping cliffhanger. Beginning December 21st, the next chapter of Sonia Blangiardo's Tainted Dreams, the soap behind a soap, will be available for streaming on Amazon and Amazon Prime. This series, which was nominated for five 2017 Daytime Emmys, follows the behind-the-scenes drama of a fictitious soap opera titled Painted Dreams and features a very unique cast composed of classic soap opera fan favorites, reality personalities and stage stars.  

Zoochie Band Releases First Single: Matador Juxtaposes Spanish Influence with Rock

Zoochie announces the launch of it's first single November 2107, Matador on most major platforms including Spotify, iTunes, CDBaby and others. You can also hear it on Youtube at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxR6aL3UdqY

In true Zoochie tradition, Matador features the vibrant vocals of lead singer Libby Kallins with an emphasis on the guitar. In this song,  guitarist Shane Curry pulls from his training in Spanish flamenco guitar. The song features heavy bass lines played by Raymond Young, combined with powerful, energetic drums by Matt Ciliberto and a ripping guitar solo by Tyler Brick. The song is written by Libby Kallins and is about a complex relationship.


Here is a live version of Matador:

View: Ode to David Cassidy - I Know I Loved You

David Cassidy in Atlantic City 

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

I think I loved you.

No, I know I did. This bespectacled, chubby, 11 year-old teacher's pet of a girl dreamed about you every night in a room covered with Tiger Beat posters of you on the wall. Perhaps there was a Bobby Sherman in the mix because you were on the same poster, but the wallpaper was just basically David Cassidy posters from anywhere I could find them.

I was the David Cassidy generation. My sister-in-law who is two years younger than me was a fan of Shaun, but not me, strictly David. You were either for David or Shaun, not both. 

Patty Jenkins: Highest Paid Female Director Ready for Wonder Woman 2

Patty Jenkins courtesy Twitter

Patty Jenkins has made a name for herself this year as well as helped make a name for other female directors. The conversation has started. The success of Wonder Woman has prompted  a sequel. Variety did a great interview with  Patty, the highest paid female director ever. View it or listen to it  here:
http://variety.com/2017/film/podcasts/playback-podcast-patty-jenkins-wonder-woman-1202615293/

For a review of  #WonderWomanMovie:
http://www.suzeebehindthescenes.com/2017/06/movie-review-patty-jenkins-wonder-woman.html

Hallmark New Holiday 2017 Movie List - We Love Them and So Do The Advertisers so Expect More Santa, Snow, Elves, Romance and Hot Chocolate

It started before Halloween. The train of holiday movies on the Hallmark channels. And is there anything wrong with that?

According to the stats from last year and their happy advertisers - magic house lights, stuffed pillows and whatnot- there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Last year, Hallmark had more viewers than any other cable network the two weekends of the holiday blitz.

And there are more coming this year. There are 33 new made-for-Hallmark holiday movies coming into our homes as fast as Santa's sleigh. Will there be something new this year?

Stories to Inspire - The For Ian Foundation Created to Find a Cure for Rare Childhood and Other Cancers

It's every parent's nightmare. One day your child is in high school, you're looking forward to graduation and doing all the college applications and trips and then your child gets sick and you hear a diagnosis you never thought you'd have to deal with.

There are so many diseases that can be treated, and there are some that can't. Ian Rahimi, a kid who was just  living a normal teenage life in a small suburban town outside of New York City, had one of those that there was not much hope for.

Ian was one of the brightest students in his school. He was exceptionally smart in the sciences, and was accepted into  Stevens Institute of Technology. Ian would have been at home in the setting of the Big Bang Theory. Smart, young and wanting to conquer the world through research he would do and things he would discover. Quantum physics was his discipline of choice.

Interview - Behind the Scenes with Collar The Movie Creators David Patrick and Nan Wilson: Cop Drama Stars Rebecca De Mornay, Richard Roundtree, Tom Sizemore

                                                                                          Interview by suzanne ordas curry

Movies, whether independent or studio-funded are years in the making. Here I interview David Patrick Wilson and Nan Wilson, a husband and wife team in the industry about their journey to create the film Collar.
________________________________________________________
Watch it now!  https://vimeo.com/ondemand/collar
__________________________________________________________

David's first acting gig was starring against Patti LaPone in South Pacific. Over the next 5 decades he has shared stage and screen credits with such notables as Chlarleton Heston, Anthony Hopkins, Telly Savalas, Leslie Ann Warrn, Michael Keaton, Josh Brolin, Ellen Barkin and more. 

The Other F Word Season Two Premieres in Boston: Tickets Available for This Screening Hosted by Peach and Irelaunch

The Other F Word star LeAnn Hutchinson with
Actress Carrie Preston at NYC premiere  P
Photo Suzanne Curry

(Press Release) Boston: The Other F Word is the break out episodic comedy about four friends who find that the angst of raising kids may be nothing compared to the angst of starting over after they are grown. Season Two of the hit indie comedy series The Other F Word recently launched on Amazon and will have a special event screening in Waltham to celebrate women coming together to help women and what show creator Caytha Jentis calls “the power of Mom.” The show will be screened at the Embassy Theater in Waltham, MA on November 9, 2017 at 7pm. There will be a Q & A after with cast and crew.

Despite Hollywood’s obsession to portray “young faces” on television, The Other F Word Series has proven after only one hit season that there is a high demand for programming geared toward women over 40. The Other F Word Series was one of the top series on Amazon Video Direct for four months running and has been streamed daily since its release September 3, 2016 and has a large audience of devoted viewers.

View: The Fall TV 2017 Lineup - Snark Season is Here

by Beth Abramson Brier

Snark is back and it is the new black! In the wake of the last twelve months this should not come as a surprise to anyone. If it does- say, you were lucky enough to have spent the last year meditating in an ashram or perhaps trapped in a cryogenics lab- message me offline and I'll fill you in. You won't believe it!

But back to snark. Or, more precisely the return of Will and Grace. And Karen and Jack. As if no time has passed, Eric McCormack's Will Truman and Debra Messing's Grace Adler pick up (almost) right where they left off with a breezy familiar banter. And while Megan Mullally delivers Karen Walker's sassy lines without missing a beat, it’s Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland who brings on the snark. Sass? Snark? Aren't I just parsing words? Exactly. Snark comes from a deeper place. It’s more heartfelt than sass and even sarcasm. It’s Jack telling us that after all these years he can’t believe he is dealing with the same old same old. That it’s okay to deny him cake.

TV Host Casey Messer of Good Morning New Mexico: On Puffy Shirts, Being an Architect, Festivus and How Perseverance Pointed Her in This Direction

                                                                                                                                                                                                   Interview by Suzanne Ordas Curry

I don't recall the initial prompt, but I met Casey on Social Media. I think what attracted my attention was her love of Seinfeld, a mutual love. So, I had to know what this girl was about.  She must be pretty cool and have a great sense of humor if she could watch Seinfeld repeats and laugh each time.

So, with a few prompts from some of the most classic lines from Seinfeld, here's some info you might not have known about this talented and busy host of Good Day New Mexico, who spends her days in Albuquerque covering all sorts of morning show subjects and successfully pursues acting in her spare time - you may not know she's played a reporter in movies and TV, such as Independence Day: Resurgence and her latest movie, Only The Brave, is out this fall.  And for those in the Northeast, you can see Casey as the Optimum Lady on cable.

No Soup for you!! 

Array of Hope Premieres New TV Series at 2017 Gala

Array of Hope presents its 2017 Gala, October 25th at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, NJ. It is an evening of exciting musical appearances, film premieres and the debut of the new TV series called Fatima Gems. According to their site, Array of Hope is a multi-media concert experience that has been playing throughout the tri-state area, hoping to spread a message of love and hope. For more information on #Arrayofhope visit: https://www.facebook.com/ArrayOfHopeEvent/

Hit Comedy on Amazon The Other F Word to Have Los Angeles Premiere at 2017 LA FEMME FESTIVAL: Season Two Now Available on Amazon

Creator Caytha Jentis and Gilbert Gottfried
of The Other F Word

The hit comedy The Other F Word (#TOFW) about life over 40 streaming on Amazon have its Season Two Los Angeles Premiere at the LA Femme International Film Festival on Saturday, October 21^st at 1PM, at the Regal Cinemas at LA Live.  The series, created, written and produced by Caytha Jentis, stars Judy Gold, Steve Guttenberg, Stephanie Little, Alysia Reiner, Reiko Aylesworth, Gilbert Gottfried, Nancy Giles, Ben Bailey and Michael Boatman.   The Other F Word will be featured as a seminar at the festival.  The entire season of web series will be shown followed by a panel discussion featuring Jentis, series director Barbara Kanowitz, actress Stephanie Little and series producer Chris Janney. Former Disney Channel executive and LA Femme Board Member Denise Carlson will moderate.

Video: Watch Melissa Silverstein of Women and Hollywood Talk about "Tectonic Shift" in Hollwood at 10th Anniversary Awards Event in New York City

New York City- Melissa Silverstein, Founder of Women and Hollywood, opened up the 10th Anniversary Awards Ceremony and Reception addressing the recent events and conversations surrounding the Harvey Weinstein allegations. She spoke with hope for change. saying that "Hollywood is broken and we are working to fix that."

Event: New York City's Morphmom Conference: Make Your Passion Your Reality and Hear from Inspiring Women October 23rd

What's a Morphmom conference? It's a place where real women come together and discuss their futures. They learn from others and get inspired. It's never too late to make a change in your life, and #Morphmom seeks to give you a path, or at the least, an idea.  The day features panel discussions by prominent speakers and breakout sessions. Newly-added for this second conference will be opportunity tables were people can sign up for paid and volunteer positions. There will also be food and refreshments, with a wine expert to help attendees make a good selection. Please see below for ticketing information. For more information visit:  www.morphmom.com.

 

VIEW: Harvey Weinstein. Quote. Unquote.

Alyssa Milano  #MeToo

 A View by Beth Abramson Brier

Grateful to have something scandalous to talk about that (for once) didn’t arise from the Oval Office, along comes Harvey Weinstein.  While he is “rehabbing” somewhere in Italy (seriously?? pizza and Prosecco??), the rest of us are left here at home placing blame and pointing fingers. Fox Business News accused Gwyneth Paltrow of being a ‘complicit fraud’. 

Always baffled by “Fox Speak”, I used my still-sharp-crackerjack- lawyering skills to look up the definition of “complicit”.  (Note:  You too can do the same without paying wildly expensive tuition but I wanted to get my money’s worth so I consulted a legal dictionary.)   The definition is bland- “Accountable for a criminal offense committed by another due to previous knowledge of other crimes”.  That didn’t tell me much so I looked it up again, this time mistyping so that autocorrect led me to the definition of “complacent”.    Complacent- “Marked by self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by numerous actual damages or deficiencies.  Also see ‘smug’, ‘self-righteous’ and ‘unconcerned’. Ah, now we are getting somewhere! Or are we?

10th Annual Action Icon Awards for Stuntwomen to be held in Los Angeles - Proceeds Benefit Diamond in the Raw, Dynamic Women Who Dare to be Different To Be Honored

Move over Oscars and Emmys, the Stuntwoman Awards are coming to Los Angeles on October 18-22, 2017. The Diamond in the RAW, a non-profit foundation to empower at-risk girls, will host its 10^th Annual Action Icon Conference and Awards. Tanika Ray will be the host this year.

This four-day event is packed with action-oriented seminars, stunt demonstrations, rigging techniques and top of the line stunt coordinators. The conference will close out with a VIP luncheon and awards reception. Both the conference and awards are attended by A-list action stars, Olympic athletes, extreme sports enthusiasts, keynote speakers, panelists, honorees and presenters from the entertainment industry.

Interview: Tanya Clarke of Driver X The Movie: From Soaps to the Big Screen and Now as Queen Rynda on Marvel's Inhumans

Interview by Suzanne Ordas Curry

Tanya Clarke is a busy actress. Her latest movie, Driver X, premieres this week. She plays Dawn, the wife of a middle-aged man, played by Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul) who becomes a driver of a ride-sharing service. It's mainly a comedy, based on actual people the writer met while being a driver for a real ride-share service. So of course, think funny, peppered with a dose of reality as it chronicles the challenges of a  near-baby boomer driving around millenials.

Driver X is Tanya's fifth movie in two years. Prior to this, she's been a familiar face all over TV, starting out in soaps. She's been on 5 daytime dramas, most notably Guiding Light, As The World Turns, Another World and One Life to Live. From there she's been on Grey's Anatomy, Banshee, Those Damn Canadians, Glee, Hawaii Five-O and many others. Now, she can be seen on the hit ABC TV show Marvel's Inhumans as Queen Rynda.

Suzee: Tell me about your role in Driver X. Who is Dawn Moore?

Tanya Clarke:  I am the sole income provider living with my 2 children and my unemployed husband in a house we can no longer afford and a lifestyle in need of major adjustments if things don't change sooner than soon.

Amazon Comedy Series The Other F Word To Premiere in NJ in Ridgewood, Caytha Jentis' Show Stars Steve Guttenberg, Judy Gold, Gilbert Gottfried, Alysia Reiner and More

(Press Release) Ridgewood- The second season of Ridgewood resident Caytha Jentis' hit Amazon comedy series The Other F Word will have its NJ Premiere at the Ridgewood Bow Tie Cinema, 190 East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood  on October 12, 2017 at 7pm. There will be a Red Carpet which starts at 6:30 pm which will feature some of the cast and crew of the series. Actress Stephanie Little, who plays Amy, will be there. The Other F Word was an Amazon Direct Video Star for four months in its first season on Amazon.

Meet RHONJ Theresa Guidice, Valerie Bertinelli, Laurie Hernandez, Lou Grant, Denis Leary, Jackie Martling, Bruce Dickerson and More at Bookends Bookstore in NJ

Bookends in Northern NJ, a bookstore in downtown Ridgewood, NJ that is a short train ride from NYC is hosting a slew of personalities and authors this fall.  RHONJ Theresa Guidice will be signing copies of her new book, Standing Strong. Mrs. Guidice always makes Bookends a stop on her book tours so you'll find other signed copies in the store.

Bookends also will host more strong females; find out how Melissa started her cupcake empire, how Chrissie Wellington started training for triathalons, how Valerie Bertinelli became a household name and how she keeps herself healthy and fed and meet Olympian and local favorite Laurie Hernandez.

RHONJ Kathy Wakile's Pizza Love Restaurant Review - What's Not To Love About It?

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

So, here in RHONJ territory in Northern NJ the news of Kathy Wakile's new pizza place opening hit all the local media rather quickly.

I had to go try it out, so I went over last Saturday to see if I would LOVE Pizza LOVE. Did I?

Classic Pizzeria Look Without the Gaudy Italian Murals

The pizza restaurant is located in a typical strip mall on the main road in Wyckoff, a nice suburban town, known for it's trees, nice neighborhoods and a really good Marshall's.

Red Oaks TV Series on Amazon Prime: Twelve Things You Didn't Know About the Show

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

1. The body swap episode was an homage to 80's body swapping movies, like Freaky Friday and 18 again. That was the first episode Amy Eckerling directed. Craig Roberts (David)  said his back hurt after doing the episode.

2. David has a British accent, and needed a voice coach to learn an American accent. Also, he is a fan of video games.

3. On the other hand, Ennis Esmer, who came to North America from Turkey when he was three.has no accent..

RHONJ Kathy Wakile Opens Pizza Love in Wyckoff, NJ: Italian Specialties Top the Menu

Kathy Wakile    Courtesy Facebook

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

One slice with pepperoni please!!

Real Housewife of NJ Kathy Wakile has announced the opening of her new pizza restaurant, Pizza Love. It is located in the suburban Bergen County town (a suburb of New York City) that is next to Franklin Lakes, the upscale town that is home to many RHONJ ladies.

On the main street in Wyckoff, which is peppered with a few strip malls, businesses, restaurants and stately homes, Mrs. Wakile has opened up her own place, 637 Wyckoff Avenue is her new home.

Review: http://www.suzeebehindthescenes.com/2017/10/rhonj-kathy-wakiles-pizza-love.html

Mrs. Wakile has always talked about her love of cooking, so it's no surprise she is in the restaurant business now nor is the name of the establishment a surprise.

DGA Reports More Women and Minorities Being Hired as Directors

Equity Movie Director Meera Menon speaks at Sundance

Well the numbers are looking better. Perhaps there is a concerted effort from the traditional media and platfoms to expand their hiring practices, but this DGA report shows gains in the hiring of female and minority directors. Though female and minority directors are almost a mainstay in the independent world, this report shows they are being hired by the corporations in Hollywood. See full report as reported by Deadline.

 http://deadline.com/2017/09/dga-report-finds-record-gains-for-first-time-women-and-minority-tv-directors-1202177628/

You May Like- Cady McClain Talks about Women Directors  http://www.suzeebehindthescenes.com/2017/06/interview-soap-star-cady-mcclain-forges.html

New Clothing Line Livari is Socially-Conscious and Fashionable, Alysia Reiner, Claudine DeSola and Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs Premiered New Line at NY Fashion Week

Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs, Alysia Reiner
and  Claudine De Sola talk to press
at the Livari Premiere

By Suzanne Ordas Curry

New York Fashion Week. There’s not much that matches the excitement of this week in New York. For me, this was my first time.

I got to witness the unveiling of a new line of socially-conscious clothing, called Livari. The lovely and inspiring ladies behind it are Alysia Reiner (actress/producer/feminine activist known for Equity the Movie, Orange is the New Black and Better Things),  Claudine DeSola (Founder, Caravan Stylist Studio and Celebrity Stylist) and Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs (Designer of Tabii Just and a Women’s March Organizer).

According to the press release, LIVARI is “a luxury fashion line that was created with the sole purpose of empowering women. It is zero-waste, women-led, women-designed and made ethically in New York.”

“Manufacturing a typical garment produces an egregious amount of waste – up to 15% of the fabric used to make a garment is tossed out and can end up in landfills”, said LIVARI founders Reiner, DeSola and St. Bernard-Jacobs. “By using the remnants from mills and sourcing other unique and ethical materials, we’re able to create something beautiful and desirable out of what would normally be discarded as waste.”

NJ Event: Gina Avino's Artistic Design Presents Lu La Roe Fashion Show to Benefit Diabetes Research Institute

Gina Avino's Artistic Designs of Ramsey, NJ will be holding a Fashion Show benefit for the Diabetes Research fund at the Ramsey Golf and Country Club in Ramsey, NJ.

Update: This show has been postponed until Spring 2018.

The show will feature Lu Lu Roe clothing. Lu La Roe clothing is a casual clothing line known for comfort, color and style. Clothing is available in many sizes including plus sizes and is reasonably priced. In addition to this fashion show benefiting diabetes research, Lu La Roe also donates a portion of sales to the National Down

Event: New Movie The Neighborhood with Danny Aiello, Armand Assante, Daniel Baldwin Comes to NJ and Select Theaters Nationwide

by Suzanne Ordas Curry

Frank D'Angelo's newest movie, The Neighborhood, opens this weekend in select theaters. A well-known cast brings this mafia- movie to life. The premise is that a group of young thugs who terrorized their neighborhood start stepping on the wrong toes. For fans of this genre, this is a must-see.

Cast includes Danny Aiello, John Ashton, Armande Assante,Keisha Augustun, Sherman Augustus, Daniel Baldwin and more. Look for cameos from Maureen McCormick and Margot Kidder.

Event: Meet the Bands of the 2017 Ridgewood Music Fest - Declan Power, Blue Plate Special, Eugene Thomas and No Big Deal, Stillettos, Trouble, No Money Down and Country Joe Trio to Perform

by Danielle Altamuro

The 4th Annual Ridgewood NJ Music Fest is set for September 10, 2017 rain or shine at Memorial Park at Van Neste Square in beautiful downtown Ridgewood. Admission is free and bands will be performing from 1-7pm. Bring your lawn chair, your appetite for food available from fine local restaurants and get ready for a great day.

Meet the Bands of the Ridgewood Music Fest!

Event: Fourth Annual Ridgewood Music Fest Features Local Bands, Fine Food and Free Admission

Looking to spend a nice weekend outdoors this fall?

The Ridgewood Guild is holding its 4th Annual Music Fest on September 10, 2017 from  1pm to 7pm in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square in downtown Ridgewood, NJ rain or shine. Bring your lawn chairs, sit back and listen to a variety of great local bands. Admission to the event is free. When you're hungry, take a stroll around the park and visit the tables of many of your favorite local restaurants which will have food for purchase. There's also a Beer and Wine Garden for adults. Also see what Plein Air Painting is, done by the Ridgewood Art Institute.

Zoochie Band Announces Fall 2017 Lineup, Opening for Drake Bell Band of Drake and Josh at Stanhope House, On The Border, Mexicali Live and More

Libby Kallins of Zoochie

Rock/Jam/Groove Band Zoochie out of New Brunswick, NJ  has announced their lineup for the fall. This emerging band. lead by vocalist Libby Kallins, has  a wordly sound with its use of different genres.

All appearances will have originals included mixed in with popular covers. The band recently debuted its new single Running Water which will be played at future concerts. Here's their schedule. Check back for updates as more shows are added.

Expect their first EP out late 2017.

Listen to their original song "I'm The Only One" here:

Movie Review of Ingrid Goes West - An #AllTooReal Depiction of Generation Me

Movie Review by Kelly A. Byrne

A week ago, my buddy who works in comedy took me to see a movie I knew almost nothing about. It was getting great reviews, so in I went, blind as a bat, to see Ingrid Goes West starring Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olson, Wyatt Russell, and Billy Magnussen. Directed by Matt Spicer. What a time it was. 

A quick logline;  A young woman, Ingrid, who has just suffered the loss of her mother moves west to Los Angeles to pursue and befriend an Instagram model who lives the “perfect” life. Anyone who has interacted with social media knows the fraudulent nature of it. It’s the sliver of life that everyone wants you to see – even strangers. When Ingrid can no longer make life work for herself at home, she takes the $60K her mother left her and travels to the land of perfect Instagrams and model living: Venice Beach, California. Ingrid Goes West was an expert satire and commentary on the way the under-30 generation is addicted to technology and social media; how they love the semblance of living a certain way, but cannot truly commit to or claim any single style or habit because they are always onto the next thing. The movie is a genius mockery of and serious warning to those trying to impress the masses through exploiting pop-lifestyle, as well as the lemmings who follow.

Interview: Soap Star Natalia Livingston of General Hospital and Days of Our Lives Now Starring as Liza Park in Tainted Dreams and Owner of Her Own Business - Learn What Inspires Her

Natalia  Livington is an Emmy-award winning actress, producer and also a business owner. From her days in soaps as a member of the Quartermaine clan Emily Bowen Quartermaine on General Hospital to her time at Days of Our Lives as Taylor Walker, Natalia has also produced, acted in commercials and also film. In this interview she talks about her new role as Liza Park on the Emmy-nominated Tainted Dreams now streaming on Amazon, her new role as owner of the www.ActorBoutique.com business in Atlanta and how her inspiration can be yours too. 

Event: Special 1Act Play Is Title of Off Broadway Production about Sexual Abuse: Nann Gill Stars in This Ann P. Meredith Production

Empowering Women Everywhere Host and Producer of the award winning movie Collar, Nann Gill, a native New Yorker to star Off Broadway in "SPECIAL 1Act Play" by Ann P. Meredith, which will be a part of the awesome NYSUMMERFEST's Theatre Festival at The Hudson Guild Theatre, 441 West 26th Street (between 9th and 10th Avenue), NYC 10001 with Performances on August 3rd @ 9:00pm, 4th @ 6:15pm and 6th @ 8:30pm. "SPECIAL 1ActPlay" is a Labor of Love and Passion and speaks to anyone who has experienced sexual abuse.

Anthony J. Wilkinson's My Big Gay Italian Series Showing at Atlantic City's Resorts: Expect Fun and Mayhem at Weddings, Funerals and in Mid-Life

Anthony J. Wilkinson's My Big Gay Italian Funeral comes to Resorts on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City on July 28, 2017 at the Superstar Theater at 9pm. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or at the Resorts Box Office.

If you've seen the precursor, My Big Gay Italian Wedding, you know what's ahead of you, a night of laughs and fun as these plays find the humor in 21st century families coming to term with new issues amid ingrained stereotypes left over from the century before.

In My Big Gay Italian Wedding, which has toured the country and was recently seen at Resorts this past summer, creator/writer and three-time Emmy Winner Anthony Wilkinson plays Anthony Pinnuziato. Spoiler alert, Anthony does end up marrying his partner, played by Brandon Goins, but not without some clever maneuvering to please his Italian parents as well as some out-manuevering of a past boyfriend who does not this marriage to become until death do you part.

New Movie Egg: A Dark Comedy About Surrogacy by Alysia Reiner, David Alan Basche and Michele Ganeless Stars Christina Hendricks, Anna Camp and More

There's an egg being hatched in Hollywood,

Egg is the name of  new indie movie by  Equity Producers Alysia Reiner, husband David Alan Basche and Michele Ganeless (Comedy Central), about, well, an unusual route to motherhood.

This movie is set to be "eggcellent" from a female perspective. As she did with Equity as a producer, Alysia, David as well as  Ganeless have assembled a crack team of females to help them in this venture. The writer is female, Risa Mickenberg (Taxi Driver Wisdom), the director is Marianna Palka (Good Dick, Glow) and you can be sure much of the team cooking up this movie will be female.

Movie Review of The Little Hours: Jeff Baena's Limited Release Comedy with Alison Brie, Dave Franco and Mollie Shannon Has a Wide Range of Humor

By Kelly A. Byrne

Jeff Baena’s The Little Hours came out in select theaters bringing joy and laughter to the self-selecting audiences who love a good 15th century nun sex comedy. After premiering at Sundance, the film was distributed by Gunpowder & Sky to positive reviews in two theaters, followed by a larger roll out. The Little Hours is home to a star-studded cast including Dave Franco, Molly Shannon, Allison Brie, John C. Riley, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza, and Fred Armisen, among others. 

When Masetto (Franco) is caught sleeping with his nobleman’s wife, he must run for his life or else be killed. In his escape, he meets a priest (Riley) and gains shelter and a job as a gardener at the monastery where he must pretend that he is a deaf mute in order to keep the nuns from bothering him. In a twist of expectations, the monastery is the least sanctimonious place of the Middle Ages.

Females In Entertainment: Wonder Woman is One Super Step in the Right Direction in the Quest for Female-Driven Movies

Wonder Woman is doing more than just Wonderful at the Box Office. It's another testament to the fact that women-directed, women-centric movies can make money from both male and females for the producers. CNN takes a good look at the power of this Patty Jenkins-directed superhero flick, but also asks a very important question. Where are movies about real women, like Vera Atkins, a World War II spy, or Harriet Tubman, for example? Hidden Figures didn't hide the fact that is was a true story about women, and look how well that did. Hoping Hollywood hears the call for more female-oriented movies based on true stories. And if not Hollywood independents should realize the need for and success from what women can bring to the camera, both in front of and behind them. Read full CNN article here: http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/02/opinions/wonder-woman-you-call-this-feminism-beale/index.html

Kevin Spacey Foundation New York Music Festival Grant Winner The Goree All-String Band is a New Musical about Redemption from Behind Bars - See It At The 2017 New York Music Festival

What is the Goree All-String Band? 

First, it's the winner of the Kevin Spacey Foundation Musical Theater Artist of Choice Grant for the New York Music Festival.

Second it's a new musical that's about something quite unique. A bunch of women in the year 1928 making music. Behind bars. Who did not know how to play music. To get out. And, it's inspired by a a true story.

Review and Recap of Jane The Virgin on the CW: This Girl is Resilient and Makes for Empowering, Engaging and Must-Binge TV

By Kelly Cronin

Jane The Virgin, the CW's award-winning drama about Jane Villanueva as she navigates becoming an adult while also becoming a mother, will be going into its fourth season this coming October. The series recently wrapped up the third season, which brought many changes to Jane’s life as well as the death of her husband, Michael mid-season. Jane’s resilience is quite admirable in her time of grief and it is clear she inherited her strength from the women who raised her: Alba, her grandmother and Xiomara, her mother. Throughout the course of the series, Jane and her motherly figures have disagreed and argued, but ultimately they are the ones who taught her how to be resilient in the face of adversity.

NJ Groove Rock Band Zoochie To Play at Stanhope House Followed by The Mighty Spectrum Band

Zoochie comes to the Stanhope House in Stanhope NJ on Friday, July 7, 2017 at 8:00 pm. They are opening for the popular cover band The Mighty Spectrum, who will be doing their Bruce Springsteen show.

Zoochie is an emerging groove rock band out of New Brunswick. The four male and lead female singer band are all college students. Formed in late 2016 they already won the Demarest Battle of the Bands at Rutgers University.

At the Stanhope House, they will be playing thier favorite original songs including Honey, Three Missed Calls and Matador. Also expect covers of Amy Whinehouse and Anderson Paak.

New Jersey Performing Arts Centers Celebrates 20 Years: Complete 2017-18 Season Listing includes Bill Clinton, Ringo Starr, Izthak Perlman, Yo Yo Ma, Daniel Tiger, YES, Temptations, Shen Yun, Classical and Hip Hop Performances and More

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ is celebrating it's 20th anniversary with a new identify and a diverse and interesting lineup for the 2017-18 season. 

Highlights include a conversation with former President Bill Clinton, a musical performace by Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, the Broadway Musical "Ain't Misbehavin', violinists Itzhak Perlman and Pichas Zukerman, The Hip-Hop Nutcracker, Ringo Starr, John Cleese and a showing of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, John Anderson of YES, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Live!, The Temptations/Four Tops, Journalist Cokie Roberts, and many other classical, musical and cultural performances and events. See below for current schedule.

Women: Looking to Learn or Make a Change in Your Life? Morphmom Conference in NYC Features Renowned Speakers, Special Guest Big Life Author Ann Shoket

Are you looking to do something new with your life? Make a change, start a new career, get a fresh or different outlook on life?

Enter the Non-conference conference by Morphmom to be held on Monday, June 26th at Playwright Horizons on 42nd Street in New York City.. Not your typical conference, this event is geared towards women (men welcome though) who want to learn more about different opportunities in life from successful women who have pursued their dreams.