7th Annual Masquerade & Costume Ball

Celebrate Halloween with GRAE at an impressive space that’s defined by the subtle nuances of Parisian style and over-the-top Manhattan panache. Join the scene, and most importantly, be seen at this gorgeous event space that caters to celebs, fashionistas, financiers and moguls.

This is the 7th year we have adorned our city with a dare to be different approach to nightlife, last year we SOLD OUT Tavern on the Green, packed with almost 2000 ppl. Please click the link below grab your ticket NOW and don’t miss out what will be another memorable night in a Beautiful venue . This one will easily be THRILLER ( couldn’t resist lol)

www.halloweencity.com/bryantparkgrill/grae/
NO TIX WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR.

Obama 1Yr. Anniversary Entrepreneurs Mixer

On Nov 4th, we @ GRAE are celebrating the 1 year anniversary of Barack Obama being elected into office. We’re doing so by introducing GRAE as the New Event Managers of 99 Park (formerly Bogarts).

We are asking for all of our business associates & friends to be a sponsor. This doesn’t mean you need to give money to us. We want you to sponsor us by bringing your business associates and yourselves. However, your more than welcome to showcase your business in a feature aspect (I.E. jewelry line, make-up, Financial literacy , marketing etc).

We at Grae want to know, “WHO DO WE KNOW”. A lot of us have business and talents that we never show each other, but we’ll know all about the party you went to!

Time to “CHANGE” that history and create a better reality

Please come congregate and network with us on this historic anniversary.Please respond via email for a confirmation of your sponsorship. Also feel free to share with like minded entrepreneurs.

Working Moms vs. Guilt

Just the other day, one of my closest girlfriends revealed something to me. Something that I, myself has pondered on several occasions. It was heart retching to hear her describe what I’ve been battling with myself for years now and I didn’t know how to appease her cries. After we hung up the phone, I found myself shedding some tears. Our gripe?

We are mothers with high-demanding careers.

When considering what would make our children truly happy, our strengths as businesswomen in the boardroom become unearthed, exposing the insecurities that lie beneath.

Am I good mom?

As extreme as the question sounds, I know overall that I’m a good mom. But because of the circumstances surrounding my everyday life, with me constantly working, makes me question myself. Working outside the home, running this magazine and operating my other businesses, takes a toll on my body and mind. Physically exhausted, I feel as if I have nothing left to give. But us working moms have no choice but to continue on.

Since I also work at home, it cuts into my quality time with my son, who spends all day at school and just wants to go to the park when I pick him up. But Mommy doesn’t have the time, I have work to finish. So what do I do?

Compromise. Sometimes he wins, sometimes he loses. But this is for now. So today, I’ll take him to the park and let him play for a couple of hours. After he goes to sleep, I’ll work late into the night to finish this article. Tomorrow, we will have to go straight home so I can edit a book, finish the rest of this magazine for the week and edit more submissions.

I, like most mothers, do not intend to work hard like this forever. So I say this to you, Sister: One day, we will have our day in the sun and sip martinis, laughing about how silly we were for doubting our dynamic mothering abilities.

But balancing life, motherhood and careers is the story of our lives right now, girlfriend. So please stay strong. You are not alone.

Miss Birdie is not just the Editor-in-chief of GraeGram, she owns a writing, editing service and has published 7 books under her company, MissBirdiesBooks.com. She is currently writing her first non-fiction novel.

This writer LOVES SUGAR!! The Restaurant

This writer LOVES SUGAR…the restaurant, that is. One of the first blogs I ever wrote for GraeGram.com featured Sugar as a corner style bakery that serves breakfast around the clock and features delectable lunch items. Sugar’s delights are so profound it was worth mentioning again, so I decided to take GraeGram’s lovely (and constantly working) Editor-in-Chief to experience the magic that is Sugar for an early dinner, on me.

Due to Sugar being a corner-style bakery, one would not expect much ambiance from the restaurant itself. In reality, Sugar is very simply adorned and quietly decorated in the most simple of modern designs – sleek lines and quiet, metallic and chrome seating, nothing special. It is the staff of Sugar that brings out the fire in this restaurant.

Imagine the renowned bar in Boston, “Cheers”, brought to life on television by Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, and company, where everyone ‘knows your name’. The staff at Sugar’s makes it their business to not only know who you are, but to remember the little things about you that are endearing.  Upon entering, we were immediately greeted with smiles, laughs, and “Where have you BEEN?? We were worried about you.” There’s nothing like feeling welcome when you walk into an establishment. Miss Birdie, our waitress, and I were so caught up talking and laughing that we all forgot why we were there – to eat!! =0)

Anyway. Peering at the menu, we both realized that we were, well, famished. After much debate and consultation from the staff, we decided to get two separate dishes and share them. Sugar’s features their regular menu, filled with breakfast favorites, lunch, dinner, and ice cream shop, drinks and treats, as well as their daily menu special, which can range from Veal Carbonara to Tuna Melts on 12-grain toast.  After we ordered and received our garden salads, we knew we were truly in for a treat. Even the salads, simple Mesclun salad with carrot and zucchini shavings, tomatoes, and sliced red onions was amazing, down to the last bite.

One of Sugar’s featured entrees is Veal Lasagna with fresh plum tomato and caprese mozzarella, freshly made and stored on the premises. Another is their play on Chicken Marsala, sautéed chicken with Portobello mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and roasted peppers with home made mashed potatoes. Though the chicken itself could’ve stood to be seasoned more, the delicious sauce with the mushrooms and tomatoes, as well as the mashed potatoes, more than made up for it. The Veal Lasagna, however, had to be the most delicious lasagna that I have ever eaten. I’m not kidding. I had to keep a close eye on our esteemed Editor-in-Chief, though. Every time I blinked, some more of my lasagna would disappear. I wonder why…=o)

After filling up on delectable bites, we took some strawberry and Panna Cotta gelato to go. (I know you didn’t actually think we were going to leave without Gelato, did you?) As we walked off some of our food with a little window (ahem) shopping, I smiled to myself. No one should start (or end) their day without a little Sugar.

Sugar Restaurant and Café, the tiny café of big sweet nothings, is located on 200 Allen Street, directly across from the 2^nd Avenue F train station. They can be reached at 212.260.1122, or at their website, www.sugarcafenyc.com.

K. Parris Catering and Personal Chef Service, LLC, is an off-premise catering company specializing in French influenced Caribbean cuisine for the elegant yet trendy urban professional. We offer full service event planning, catering, and personal chef services tailored to family friendly as well as urban chic events. For more information, visit her website at www.kimberlyparris.com.

Notes From the Editor: Mediocrity

Some people get used to having a certain degree of success. Or as I call it, non-success. There are people with so much talent that have become content, albeit, complacent with the comforts of being underachieving-overachievers.

Success by definition: achieving favorable outcome desired.

Let’s not blow up everyone else’s with established ‘intentions’ (that we’ve all heard before) a.k.a. “My album is about to drop!” “I’m starting my own business.” or “I’m going to finish my book!”  (Guilty as charged!) Granted, there are people out there that are not equipped to handle the amenities of true success.

Maybe that’s not it. They may be afraid of succeeding and being mediocre may be all they can handle. There’s nothing wrong with being average, but if you say one thing and live your life half way, well that’s where the dispute is.

Some of us need to ask ourselves:

“Why do I complain about where I am in my life, fully equipped to change  it, go just far enough and stop just short of my goals?”

“What am I afraid of?”

Then finish with the question,

“When did it become OK for us to be mediocre?”

After you think about it, ask: “What can I do to change it?”

Hint: It’s in your hands.

Miss Birdie is not just the Editor-in-chief of GraeGram, she owns a writing, editing service and has published seven books under her company, MissBirdiesBooks.com. She is currently writing her first non-fiction novel.