ThatKellieGirl recently attended a taping of WHUT-TV‘s Evening Exchange to feature African-American, women entrepreneurs in their special series, ”Ms. Biz”. The event was to promote the Women and Girls Lead Initiative with the goal to focus, educate, and connect citizens worldwide in support of the issues facing women and girls. As I move forward with my own entrepreneurial pursuits, I was very excited to hear about the success stories, lessons learned and how to’s from entrepreneurs in the DC area.
Category Archives: Special Event
The African American Experience Fund
Hello Good People!
Recently, ThatKellieGirl was invited to the first annual Masquerade Ball to benefit the African American Experience Fund (AAEF) of the National Park Foundation (NPF), the official charity of America’s national parks. The event was hosted by lifestyle guru, restaurateur, B. Smith and her husband and business partner, Dan Gasby (President of B. Smith Enterprises) at their B. Smith’s Union Station Restaurant. (The masked couple in the above picture.
) B. Smith was recently named the national spokesperson of the AAEF.
Freedom Friday: The Boo Bash Edition
Hello Trick or Treaters,
Do you want to have a good time this weekend?
Then I suggest you come out to The Boo Bash Costume Party this Saturday. And your first drink is on us! There will be food, dancing and prizes for best male, female, couple and overall costumes. We have put in a lot of time and hard work to bring you a great event. However, I am most excited about raising money for the Words, Beats and Life Scholarship Fund to be awarded to graduating seniors who will attend college. So I truly hope you can join us.
There are a lot of events going on this weekend, so please be safe. If you need to get home, take metro or click here for a FREE RIDE HOME.
Peace, ThatKellieGirl
The Boo Bash 2011…Party with a Purpose!
Hey Good People!
ThatKellieGirl is personally inviting you to the The Boo Bash Costume Party! The Boo Bash is in its 4th year, and this year, we will be partying with a purpose. The Boo Bash will also be a fundraiser for Words Beats & Life, Inc. A portion of the proceeds will go towards WBL’s Scholarship Fund.
B-boys will be in the house from ToysaReUs, and we have costume prizes for the best male, female, couple and overall costume. It is going to be a great time with great people!
Check out this video to learn more about the great things WBL is doing in the community!
I ♥ WBL from Words Beats & Life on Vimeo.
Saturday, October 29
Goethe Institut
812 7th St. N.W.
Chinatown/ Gallery Place
10PM to 1AM
Enter to win a Halloween Hip Hop Gift Pack if you save yourself time at the door and pay online by this Friday, 10/28 at 5pm to be entered into the drawing.
Look At What You Missed
Hey Good People!
So the last two weekends have been fun-filled with art and culture. This past Friday, I attended the third installment of Africa Underground. I missed the first two installments, but this one did not disappoint. There was food, music and dancing all night long. I however was really excited about the fashion shows showcasing designers Korto Momolou (Project Runway Season 5) and Cote Minou who bring a modern, African aesthetic to fashion. For more pictures of the show, click here and here.
Freedom Friday: The Oprah Farewell Editon aka Memorial Day Weekend Edition
Hey Folks!
TGIF!
I know everyone and their Mama has been talking about Oprah’s departure from network TV. I will admit, I am not a die-hard Oprah fan like many others. However, I have always had massive respect for her. As her show was coming to an end, it has made me even more appreciative of the opportunity to attend her show this last season. And as I walked through the doors of Harpo to this present day, I can’t help but marvel at her journey from a poor Mississippi girl to a media mogul. However, what I have loved the most is Oprah’s desire to offer “soul” food to her viewers. In a society that promotes a “me” philosophy, Oprah could have produced meaningless, yet entertaining shows that tv viewers seem to really love. However, she decided to produce shows to help people WAKE UP to live their life to the fullest. Oprah not only talked about, but showed us, how to pay it forward. And I always respected Oprah for being successful, but not at someone else’s expense. Oprah’s passion to serve others has touched millions. She proves that one person can make a difference. You might not reach millions, but you can reach those around you. The biggest lessons I learned from Oprah: be present; be responsible for your actions, love and serve others, and find your purpose, or as the old folks say, your calling.
We all know that it’s Memorial Day Weekend. Let’s remember to honor the women and men who have died serving our country.
Peace and Blessings!
The 7th Annual Movement and Wellness Expo kicks off this weekend. I will be learning some basic belly dancing moves tomorrow. I am quite excited! The Bellydancers of Color Association (BOCA) was formed by Dr. Sunyatta Amen in an effort to celebrate the sister/brotherhood, strength and beauty of people of color in relation to belly dance and other traditional forms of dance.
May 27- May 30
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Silver Spring, MD
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Tonight, the Park Unplugged features Faith Evans.
Friday, May 27
The Park
920 14th St NW
RSVP at vsmithent@gmail.com
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The Annual Caribbean Wine Festival at Linganore Winecellars kicks out this weekend for the summer.
May 28-29
Linganore Caribbean Wine Festival
13601 Glissans Mill Road Mt. Airy, MD
11AM-6PM
21 and up- 20 Bucks
18-20- 15 bucks
Under 18 w/ adult- FREE
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Axel #5 returns to fonktify your holiday weekend. Now with Lazer Boogie and MORE ACTIVATOR THAN EVER BEFORE. DJ JAHSONIC and ADRIAN LOVING will be enjoying some well-earned travel time, so we tapped our League of Extraordinary DJs to find another suitable co-pilot. DJ KEENAN ORR knows his jams and how to create a freakshow on the dancefloor. This special guest will be joining resident DJ STYLUS, so make him feel welcome!
Saturday, May 28
LIV
2001 11th St NW
10PM-3AM
FREE before midnight, 5 Bucks after
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PBS sponsors a FREE National Memorial Day Concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The concert features actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, and other guest artists along with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Sunday, May 29
West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol
E. Capitol St. and First St. NW
Gates open at 5PM
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The Liberal Party presents a special holiday bash with the man behind Club Shelter music, DJ Adam Rios. Adam is one half of the world-famous Club Shelter music along with Timmy Regisford. Come through and experience Memorial Weekend with Liberal Party resident Derrick “D-Train” Coleman.
Sunday, May 29
Level X Lounge
1934 9th St NW
8PM
10 Bucks
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DJ Dredd spins all the music you know and love by Prince and all related artists–Hits, B-Sides, Rarities & Video. The Time, Shelia E., Vanity 6, Madhouse, The Family.
Sunday May 29
Black Cat
9PM-1:30AM
10 Bucks/ 12 Bucks at the door
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Daylight 5 Year Anniversary Party Hosted By Tone Source and a lavish buffet including seafood by Executive Chef Jarobi Murray. The best in classic music . . . R & B Dance Classics,Soul, Old school House, Funk, 80′s,90′s Rare Grooves, Originals, Early Hip Hop,and more.
Sunday, May 29
Liv (Upstairs)
2001 11th Nw
8PM-2AM
Discounted tickets here
20 Bucks at the door
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The Ultra White Party celebrates contemporary Africa like no other. Come party with over 1,000 afro-chic guests, African music by some of the hottest African DJs on 3 dance floors. All white dress code fully enforced; Colored accessories permitted. Presented by IDOA Entertainment & BCBG Productions
Sunday, May 29
Love
1350 Okie St NE
9PM-3AM
General Admin- 20 Bucks
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Come dressed to sweat!
Sunday, May 29
ESL
1212 18th St NW
9:30PM- 3AM
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The National Memorial Day Parade includes Marching Bands and Veterans units from all 50 states. The parade is sponsored by the World War II Veterans Committee and includes patriotic floats and helium-filled balloons. The parade will be preceded by musical performances and ceremonies at the reviewing stand at 1 p.m. at the National Archives, at the corner of 7th St. and Constitution Avenue.
Monday, May 30
The National Memorial Day Parade begins at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Streets, NW and proceeds along Constitution Avenue, past the White House, ending at 17th Street.
2PM
Click here for the parade route.
White House Garden Tour
Hey Folks!
Check out my pics from the White House Garden Tour from yesterday. It was a little nippy and cloudy outside, but we had a fantastic time on the grounds of the White House. There was a military band playing (not sure which branch) and plenty of beautiful flowers and scenery.
The White House Garden Tours have been a tradition since 1972 when Pat Nixon first opened the White House gardens to the public. Visitors are invited to view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and South Lawn of the White House. A new addition to the tour was First Lady Obama’s Kitchen Garden. The garden was named in honor of Thomas Jefferson. The vegetables were grown from heirloom seeds used by Jefferson at his estate, Monticello. I was quite impressed. You might see ThatKellieGirl in some overalls in the future.
Enjoy!
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Win a Detox Seminar: Relax, Relate & Release with ThatKellieGirl
UPDATE!!!
Rescheduled for Sunday, December 5th from 10AM to 1PM at the Center for Green Urbanism, 3938 Benning Road N.E. WDC 20019.
ThatKellieGirl in partnership with Core Connection Lifestyle is offering one lucky winner the opportunity to attend an “Urban Cleanse” which is a half day detox seminar.
The seminar will include:
- Information on types of cleanses
- Discussion on the benefits of detox
- A detox yoga class
- Resources and tips on healthy living
- Delicious juices and smoothies
- Complimentary follow-up session
- 25% off Get Clean: 7-Day Post-Holiday Cleanse
To enter,
- Leave a comment on this post saying that you want to go to Urban Cleanse: 1/2-Day Detox Seminar OR
- Tweet the following: I want to win a ticket from @ThatKellieGirl1 to @CoreConnection’s #UrbanCleanse on 11/28.
Contest ends at midnight on November 25th.
The winner must register by 9PM on November 26. If not, another winner will be chosen.
Travel and hotel are not covered.
ThatKellie hopes to see you on the mat!
Get Some Culture….
Hello People,
There are several summer festivals are kicking off this week.
The DC Hip-Hop Theater Festival (DC HHTF) begins this evening. DC HHTF has showcased the stories, people, music, dance, and word of Hip-Hop live and on stage. The mission of the HHTF to support innovative work from Hip-Hop and other urban forms of expression and to engage young people with this work through arts and education programs. In its 9th year, the festival is presented jointly by the Hip-Hop Theater Festival and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities .
July 6-10
Performances Throughout DC
Free
Click here for full schedule and to purchase tickets
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The Capital Fringe Festival starts this Thursday. For five years, the festival provides outlets and opportunities for artists to self-produce in a nurturing and supportive environment while exposing their work to patrons and the local, national and international media that they would never be able to garner on their own.
July 8- 25
Performances throughout DC
Click here for the schedule and to purchase tickets.
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The 1st DC Africa Festival will take place this Saturday. I am very excited about this event, and the District is definitely overdue in hosting this type of event. Hosted by the Office of African Affairs, there will be African food, drumming, clothing, accessories, and a performance by The Renown Les Belles d’Afrique.
Saturday, July 10
Takoma Community Center & Field
300 Van Buren Street N.W.
Noon to 6PM
Free
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Talented playwright and friend, John Johnson will debut a new play entitled ”Unemployment Lines”. This is the story where broke actors tell rich stories about the realities of today’s economic conditions on the lives of Washingtonians.
Saturday, July 10 & Sunday, July 11
1365 H St. N.E.
Saturday, 7PM
Sunday, 3PM
Click here to purchase tickets
The “You Missed It!” Review
This past weekend, Risikat “Kat” Okedeyi pulled no punches at “When Harlem Came to Paris.” She involved the best and brightest of DC’s creative class. From the food (the lobster maccaroni and cheese was a standout) to the jazz stylings of the W.E.S. Group led by Dr. William E. Smith who portrayed W.C. Handy, each guest was transported to 1926 Paris, France. Everyone danced as if it was the latest music. It only emphasized that “good music” is truly timeless.
Guests were introduced to a myriad of Harlemites throughout the evening. Ms. Mamie Mason, Chester Hime’s fictional character in the book Pinktoes and the Hostesss With The Mostest, was the mistress of ceremony for the evening.
Ms. Mason introduced us to: Lillian Hardin-Armstrong, who passionately played classical and jazz tunes on the piano; Dorothy West, Claude McKay, Wallace Thurman and Zora Neale Hurston who recited excerpts of their literary works; and The Mother of Blues Ma Rainey sang a lively rendition of “Black Bottom”. I found this instructional video for those wanting to learn the Black Bottom Dance. (I don’t know how true-to-form it is, but it give us an idea.
)

Dana Kristina-Joi Morgan as Lillian Hardin-Armstrong, Richard Davis as Wallace Thurman, Roger Bonair-Agard as Claude McKay, Michele Lee Gray as Dorothy West, Risikat I. Okedeyi as Zora Neale Hurston and Ne'a Posey as Ma Rainey
However, one of the the best parts of the evening were the fashions. The gentleman were dapper and the ladies were sophisticated. The outfits really set the tone for the event.
Also during the event, a silent auction took place. Authentic Contemporary Art was on-hand to exhibit paintings of the featured artist James Stephen Terrell.
As I continue to say, Risikat ”Kat” Okedeyi is a social and cultural architect in the District. I am so glad that I attended this event. It was so much more than a party. I left the event enlightened, enriched and more knowledgeable of the Harlem Renaissance. Let’s continue to support people who offer fun, creative and original events within our community. I can’t wait until next year!
And what better way than to celebrate an accomplishment than to attend the Winter Music Conference! I wish I was going.
I will be there next year though. Ya’ll have a good time. Tell Nathan I said hello!


























