Entertainment

Reel-ality TV Talk

Published

9 years ago

June 29, 2015

By Marquesa LaDawn
NNPA Columnist

On the Real Housewives of New York (RHONY), arriving in Turks and Caicos brings out the crazy. Before I go there, I must compliment the ladies for looking so hot at their age in a bikini! Some other things, not so much. For starters, Ramona, really? How old are you? Running into the house and demanding the best room? Are you the host? It’s funny how you drove yourself and the other ladies crazy and did not get the best room.

I think Bethenny summed you up best in three words: “Ramona, The Apologizer.” You have a pattern: screw up, offend and then apologize. Go on put on the cape! I have to say I’m jealous – in a good way. The digs, water, chef, butler, everything is amazing.

Ok, enough of that. Would you believe Bethenny is sharing a room with Heather? It just sort of happened. Let’s see how that develops next week.

The biggest shocker is Sonya is so deep in denial about well, everything; it’s driving the other housewives crazy. So, they let her have it this week, especially Bethenny. I think it’s so interesting how we need others to shake us up at times. I do feel a little sorry for Sonya, I think she’s being hugely impacted by the scars of her past. She can’t let them go and she self-medicates with alcohol to deal. She is such a lovely women with a heart of gold, but needs a bit of push to understand and shift her reality.

Real Housewives of the OC (RHOOC) take baths in their scars. Let’s start with Tamara Barnes (Judge). She is a mess, but it was refreshing to see her admit that she needs to make some changes and become a better version of herself. That thought was gone by the next week and now she’s back with her lack of filters. I must give a high five to head OC Housewife Vicki, for extending a “let’s reconnect” olive branch to Tamara. It may be an episode or two before the branch is broken.

The deepest scars, are clearly from Shannon. I don’t know what to make of her, I admire her desire to keep her marriage together, but I have to say that at times, it comes off as desperate. It’s almost like she’s proclaiming feeling insecure, dealing with affairs, and the like to stay married. I wish her the best. I also hope she does what’s in the best interest of her sanity, which could mean saying goodbye. All of this personal pressure is causing her to be a bit over emotional in other situations. The new housewife tries to connect with her and Shannon overreacts and storms out. This is what gets me, based on next week’s preview, her behavior gets her uninvited to a party and she’s surprised! Really!

I must mention Heather, the princess of OC, the one who lives in the palace and is building another. She launched her first product, a champagne this week, happy to see her making her own coin. I mean it’s got to be boring spending all that money on 30 bathrooms and countless bedrooms. I’m not hating, just admiring.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ) will be back soon. Did you hear, it’s all about Joe and the kids and how they deal with Teresa not being around. I’m excited about this!

But I’m also a bit bummed by Claudia Jordan getting dismissed from the Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA). My goodness, she was the only one to stand up to Queen Nene with class. I mean Kenya was pretty good as well, but, Claudia handled Nene like a pro. If I had to guess why they let her go, she had no life. She’s such a pretty lady but nothing was going on. Although I do not agree with Nene about all women being in relationships or dating on the show, I do think you need to have something popping.

Speaking of something popping, The Braxtons never disappoint. The entertainment value is always high. But, like every one else, they got scars too and a lot of them. Trina, my goodness, she struggles with being alone. She sacrificed so much happiness to be married and now she’s paying for it via a dirty divorce. I love that short hairdo, Trina!

Tamar, is struggling with feeling invisible to her sisters, she feels left out and refuses to change or say I’m sorry. I can tell they are fed up with her antics and they’ve chosen to block her out nicely. I’m more worried about Traci who seems under the influence. More on that next week. Stay tuned.

I cannot end without talking about my Married to Medicine ladies. Quad, deals with her scars by turning the tables and getting vengeance. Her target, Lisa Nichol Cloud, the volcano will erupt soon.

Marquesa LaDawn is a professional businesswoman who escapes the pressures of living in New York City by retreating into the real world of reality TV. Follow me on twitter @realityshowgirl and subscribe to her podcast at www.RealitytvGirl.com.

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Related Topics:Marquesa LaDawn Real Housewives reality tv shows RHOA RHOBH RHONJ

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Oakland Post: Week of May 8 – 14, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May May 8 – 14, 2024

Published

6 days ago

May 10, 2024

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Community

Rajah Caruth: Young Trailblazer of NASCAR

Imagine you’re only 22 years old and already making a name for yourself in NASCAR, one of the most thrilling sports in the US. That is the life of Rajah Kirby Caruth, an American professional stock car racing driver.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rajah Kirby Caruth, an American professional stock car racing driver. (File Photo)

By Tamara Shiloh

Born June 11, 2002, in Washington, DC, he was drawn to the sport as a child after seeing the Disney Pixar film “Cars.”

Caruth dreamed of tooling around the track like the main character in “Cars,” Lightning McQueen. His enthusiasm grew when his parents surprised him with a trip to the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway when he was 12.

In 2018, while keeping busy with school, sports and a summer job, Caruth and his family held fundraisers so that he could buy an iRacing simulator. Then, at age 16, he traded a real driver’s license to race virtually in the eNASCAR Ignite Series, which led to him being recruited by the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program.

His first big opportunity came in 2019 when he competed in a “Legends” car at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Bojangles’ Southern Shootout and recorded two top-third in the semi-pro points.

People began to recognize Caruth’s talents. In 2020, he stepped up to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series and became the first African American to win at Greenville-Pickens Speedway in a late model race. The next year, he won at Tri-County Motor Speedway and picked up his fourth overall late model victory.

Then, he became the first person of color to win at the South Carolina track.

In 2021, Caruth announced he would compete full-time in the ARCA Menards Series East for Rev Racing, where he finished third in the standings, including a series of top-five finishes. He made his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut on a bigger stage as well.

Then, in 2022, thing really took off. A new chapter found Caruth at NASCAR’s unofficial Triple A league with GMS Racing, where he drives full-time for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, with a sponsorship from The Wendell Scott Foundation. After a few setbacks, he broke into the top 10 several times, finishing at a career-high 6th at Darlington Raceway.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Caruth’s took the third major step in his career. He is now driving full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Spire Motorsports and has been making the news for putting on stellar performances. Oh, and he won at Las Vegas: his first career victory.

From an impressionable young racing fan to a professional NASCAR driver, Caruth is charting a new path, creating history, and inspiring people to always remember that if you have the talent, the drive, and most of all, the heart, anything can be achieved.

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Bay Area

Mayor Breed Proposes Waiving City Fees for Night Markets, Block Parties, Farmers’ Markets, Other Outdoor Community Events

Mayor London N. Breed introduced legislation on April 26 to encourage and expand outdoor community events. The first will waive City fees for certain events, making them less costly to produce. The second will simplify the health permitting for special event food vendors through the creation of an annual permit. Both pieces of legislation are part of the Mayor’s broader initiative to bring vibrancy and entertainment to San Francisco’s public right of ways and spaces.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Outdoor community events are integral to San Francisco’s vibrant culture and sense of community. iStock image.

Mayor’s Press Office

Mayor London N. Breed introduced legislation on April 26 to encourage and expand outdoor community events.

The first will waive City fees for certain events, making them less costly to produce. The second will simplify the health permitting for special event food vendors through the creation of an annual permit. Both pieces of legislation are part of the Mayor’s broader initiative to bring vibrancy and entertainment to San Francisco’s public right of ways and spaces.

Outdoor community events are integral to San Francisco’s vibrant culture and sense of community. These events include night markets, neighborhood block parties and farmers markets, and bolster the City’s economy by supporting local businesses and attracting tourists eager to experience San Francisco’s unique charm and food scene.

They offer residents, workers and visitors, opportunities to engage with local artists, musicians, and food vendors while enjoying the San Francisco’s stunning outdoor spaces and commercial corridors.

The legislation will allow for more and new community gatherings and for local food vendors to benefit from the City’s revitalization.

“San Francisco is alive when our streets are filled with festivals, markets, and community events,” said Breed. “As a city we can cut fees and streamline rules so our communities can bring joy and excitement into our streets and help revitalize San Francisco.”

Fee Waiver Legislation

The events that can take advantage of the new fee waivers are those that are free and open to the public, occupy three or fewer city blocks, take place between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., and have the appropriate permitting from the ISCOTT and the Entertainment Commission.

The applicant must be a San Francisco based non-profit, small business, Community Benefit District, Business Improvement District, or a neighborhood or merchant association. Fees eligible for waiver include any application, permit, and inspection/staffing fees from San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, Department of Public Health, Fire Department, Entertainment Commission, and Police Department.

Currently, it can cost roughly anywhere between $500-$10,000 to obtain permits for organized events or fairs, depending on its size and scope. Organizations and businesses are limited to a maximum of 12 events in one calendar year for which they can receive these fee waivers.

Food Vendor Streamlining Legislation

The second piece of legislation introduced will help special event food vendors easily participate in multiple events throughout the year with a new, cost-effective annual food permit. Food vendors who participate in multiple events at multiple locations throughout the year will no longer need to obtain a separate permit for each event. Instead, special event food vendors will be able to apply and pay for a single annual permit all at once.

“Many successful food businesses either begin as pop-up vendors or participate in special events to grow their business,” says Katy Tang, Director of the Office of Small Business. “Giving them the option for an annual special event food permit saves them time and money.”

Currently, food vendors are required to get a Temporary Food Facility (TFF) permit from the Department of Public Health (DPH) in order to participate in a special event, among permits from other departments.

Currently, each special event requires a new permit from DPH ranging from $124-$244, depending on the type of food being prepared and sold. Last year, DPH issued over 1,500 individual TFF permits. With the new annual permit, food vendors selling at more than four to six events each year will benefit from hundreds of dollars in savings and time saved from fewer bureaucratic processes.

“This legislation is a step in the right direction to make it easier for food vendors like me to participate in citywide events,” said Dontaye Ball, owner of Gumbo Social. “It saves on time, money and makes it more effective. It also creates a level of equity.”