Nightlife

New councilwoman Kristen Richardson opens Harlem office

Recently, Councilwoman Kristen Richardson thanked her community at her brand new office at 181 West 135th St. Here she showed her appreciation to her mother Dr. Lynne Richardson and her life partner as she was welcomed by AG Letitia James. Also in attendance were her family and friends.

Good morning gorgeous, Mary J. Blige and R&B greats performing at Mother’s Day festival

Fresh off blowing up the spot last weekend at Jazz in the Garden, came word on more moves the Queen of Hip Hop Soul is making. We learned that Mary J Blige in tandem with Pepsi and Live Nation will hold over Mother’s Day weekend, May 6-8, the inaugural “Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit.” The host city will be Atlanta and will focus in the areas of music, wellness, tech, beauty and financial literacy. In addition to Blige, Chaka Khan, Ella Mai, XSCAPE, City Girls, Baby Tate, Sevyn Streeter, Rubi Rose, Kierra Sheard, Le’Andria Johnson, Omeretta the Great and more are initially asked to perform. Led by Blige, Vice President of MJB Inc. Nicole Jackson, and Marketing Maven Ashaunna Ayars of The Ayars Agency, the women-run, women-led event is dedicated to showcasing and celebrating women across generations and will also feature dozens of local, minority, and femaleowned businesses for attendees to patronize.

Speaking on her excitement for the upcoming festival, Blige revealed, “The idea for the festival came to us after early listening sessions of my latest album with my family and friends and women in the industry. Each time, the people in the room would share a story, oftentimes of heartbreak or pain, but they always ended with joy and love and how their girlfriends or mom or sister helped them find their voice and strength. We felt like after two years of being inside and having to endure so much, that this was the type of experience that people, especially women, deserved.”

She concluded, “I’m so grateful to all of the performers, vendors, and participants for committing themselves to our inaugural event and I am so excited to do this in a city that has been rocking with me since the very beginning of my career. I am proud to create this with my sisters and I look forward to an undeniably beautiful and special experience.”

As we go to press here is the breakdown thus far:

Friday, May 6: Kiana Ledé and Sevyn Streeter will headline a concert at Tabernacle Atlanta, Emotional Oranges, Rubi Rose, Inayah, MK xyz and Omerettá the Great are also scheduled.

A comedy show at the Buckhead Theater features Ms. Pat, Wanda, Just Nesh and Erica Duchess.

Saturday, May 7: Icon Chaka Khan will grace the stage, as well as Xscape, Ella Mai, Queen Naija, City Girls, Baby Tate and of course Mary J Blige.

Lastly Sunday, May 8, a Mother’s Day brunch at City Winery features Kierra SheardKelly and Le’Andria Johnson.

A trip to the A for Mother’s Day might only be rivaled by a trip to New Orleans on the 4th of July weekend. Get ready for the return of the Essence Music Festival!! The actual festival dates take place from June 30-July 3, and the confirmed headliners for the respective nights are Kevin Hart, Nicki Minaj, Janet Jackson and New Edition. More info on that is bound to come in a lil later, but we can start to scrape together the ends now. Gotta bounce.

Holla next week. Until then, enjoy the nightlife.