LIFESTYLES New Pittsburgh Courier
A8
OCTOBER 3-9, 2018
www.newpittsburghcourier.com
Debbie Norrell
Lifestyles Report The news has me in a funk The news has me in a funk. It all started out with the Cosby sentencing. I didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t expect 3 to 10 years in a state prison. Yes I understand he drugged this woman before the sexual act but I still cannot get over their relationship after the incident. I have watched several interviews with Andrea Constand and the one that gets me is where she tells the reporter that Cosby shows her the pills first and then they had a brief discussion about the pills and what the effect would be. She then says she “found some water” and took the pills. Not only that, they maintained a relationship, talked on the phone and allegedly Cosby paid her $3.5 million, the actual amount has never been revealed. Then this woman goes to court and testifies against him. I would be livid. What really amazes me is that most of the women would take some pills handed to them by someone. Who does that? I know I have said this before but in many cases the women went back a second time—“can you say Beverly Johnson” — and they want to blame the married man for what happened to them. Yes, I get it that what he did was wrong but it all seems so lopsided. There are all of these other men who have been accused by multiple women but no action is being taken against them. A semi-related story that went on for several weeks is the story of Geoffrey Owens who was photographed at Trader Joe’s working at the checkout line. The reason Owens, former TV son-in-law to Cosby, had to take that job was due to the cancellation of “The Cosby Show” reruns, therefore no residuals. I’m sure all of the Cosby regulars took a hit. I don’t think Owens had much of a career after the Cosby show, I never saw him in anything. He is scheduled to appear on NCIS: New Orleans in episode 6, it will air on Oct. 30. Reportedly he is to appear in the “Haves and the Have Nots” but I have seen conflicting reports. Since this is one of my favorite shows I’ll let you know if he has been made a part of the cast. I feel fortunate that I found the complete boxed set of “The Cosby Show,” all 202 episodes during a Black Friday shopping spree. I also have the best of season one of “The Bill Cosby Show.” All of the good that came from the shows featuring Bill Cosby should not be erased from the planet. If you are lucky enough to find his shows on DVD, buy them. The bad news about Cosby’s sentencing was compounded by the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. From what I have seen of Kavanaugh he doesn’t seem like the type of person suitable for the Supreme Court. I picked up an immature quality in his responses. There has to be someone better. If I could vote, I would vote no. (Email Debbie at debbienorrell@aol.com.)
FIRST-TIMERS—Stan Drum- THE ORGANIZERS—Lorraine Dinatale, Trisha Daniel and Krystal ACTOR TOM ATKINS—with wife FIRST TIMER—Lisa Butts (Phomond and Keiha Drummond Janis tos by Debbie Norrell) Vanbura
Le Diner en Blanc Pittsburgh turns four by Debbie Norrell Lifestyles Editor
Paris, New York, Atlanta or any other city that has done Le Diner en Blanc for decades has nothing on the Steel City. On Sept. 15, Le Diner en Blanc was held in Pittsburgh. Tradition calls for the location of the diner to be announced on the same day of the diner about 30 minutes prior to the main event. Nearly 1,200 waited in designated locations near the all-white event for their group leaders to give them the location of the secret soiree. This year’s location was east of the city in Mellon Park. It was a beautiful evening and organizers Lorraine Dinatale, Trisha Daniel and Krystal Vangura once again brought spectacular nuances to the fourth annual Le Diner en Blanc. There were fire BEAUTIFUL DRESSED IN WHITE—Stephanie Rideau, Kathy Fitzgerald, Farrah Penn and Kimberly Green
BEST DRESSED—April Morrison, Kyetheus Monteiro and Lana Nuemeyer
dancers, acrobats, classical music, wine tasting and a DJ that got everyone on their feet at the end of the evening. Of course the Le Diner en Blanc traditions of waving the white napkin and lighting the sparklers at dark were highlights of the evening. Next year will be year five for Pittsburgh and should be a big event. If you are up to the challenge of wearing all white, bringing your own table and chairs, meal and centerpieces, get ready for next year by logging in to https:// Pittsburgh. dinerenblanc.com and register.
HAVING A GREAT TIME—Tanya Fleming and Joy Smith
WE ARE ON OUR WAY—Naomi and Owen Carty with Karl and Lea Edmonds AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT
HAVING A GREAT NIGHT—Gregg Lovelace, Latika Davis Jones, Maurice Jones, Kiva Fisher Green, Kelli Epperson, Sunni Lovelace
WELL-EXECUTED CENTERPIECE