As promised, here is a Q&A with novelist, entrepreneur, PR professional– Gretchen Cook Anderson, one of the organizers of the “Dreams From My Father” American Scholars Inaugural Ball. I know that a lot of people out there want to participate in the festivities in DC, but besides google mapping the route to DC, we don’t have the first idea on how to get involved. So, with no further ado, here’s Gretchen and what she has to say:
Tayari: Gretchen, for many people—myself included—all the inauguration stuff is uncharted territory. Can you quickly let everyone know what exactly IS an inaugural ball?
Gretchen: The short answer is that it’s a party. The long answer is that the best balls, in my opinion, bring two worlds together. In the most basic sense, it is a gala to celebrate the new president and with Barack Obama, there is obviously a lot to celebrate. So there will be food, music, party clothes, swank amenities.
Tayari: Sounds like my kind of party.
Gretchen: But a ball should also bring attention to an important issue. For the “Dreams From My Fathers” ball, we are highlighting the achievements of African American intellectuals. We’re honoring Toni Morrison, Cornell West, and other black scholars. We’re also giving a portion of the proceeds to education advocacy groups.
Tayari: I think it’s important that these folks be honored on this historic occasion. When you think about it, they really paved the way.
Gretchen: We want to honor them, but we also want to make sure that they have a good time! Macy Gray will be the MC and we’re expecting LL Cool J, Alicia Keys, Chrisette Michele and others. There will be a DJ and also a house band.
Tayari: You know I am in favor of that. I believe in a good time, especially for a good cause.
Gretchen: Did you see that we are honoring Johnnetta B. Cole?
Tayari: I did see that. I love that there are people on the list from HBCUs, the Ivies, and lots of other places. It’s like the true diversity of black scholarship is on full display.
Gretchen: That’s really what we are going for. We wanted it to be as diverse as possible. The honorees are multi-generational, they hail from all over the country. We’ve got novelists and neurosurgeons on the list. But biggest thing is that is it going to be welcoming to everyone.
Tayari: What about people that want to attend? I know I was interested, but I didn’t know how to go about getting tickets to a ball. I thought I needed to know a congressman or something. And I had no idea that there would even *be* events like this!
Gretchen: There are still some tickets available. You can get them at our website. It’s filling up fast, but right now, there are some available spaces.
Tayari: Just don’t give away my seat!
Gretchen: You know I wouldn’t do that.

For New Year’s Eve I hung out with Jarita Davis who swooped through NYC on her way to Lisbon. (Is she fabulous? Indeed.) We were sure we could find some NYE’s mischeif in New York. After all, it is New York and between we think we know everybody. Well, after receiving about a dozen text messages from folks indicating that we were welcome to join them in a marathon viewing of Heros, Season Six, we decided to head out on our own in search of an appropriate way to ring in the New Year.
Here’s where it starts feeling like a metaphor: We went to LITM, my favorite Jersey City bar. There was a prix fixe menue– $89– but we figured begggars couldn’t be choosers. But, actually, we could be choosers. Jarita asked if we could order off the regular menu. “Sure,” said the waitress. So we did, cutting our bill by more than half– and allowing us to eat what we really wanted. Namely the grilled duck and Jamaican bread budding. When it came time for the ball drop, we put on our 2009 silver sparkle spectacles and ordered champagne. We toasted, he hugged each other and a couple strangers. at 12:02, the waitress dropped by the table two more splits of bubbly. We didn’t order it. We didn’t pay for it. But we put it in our pocketbooks and headed for the door.
This is the way to start the new year. Ask for what you want and be open and free champagne will fall into your lap. You just have to have sense enough to take it and run.
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! 2009 IS GOING TO BE OUR YEAR!