Parties & Events: VH1 Basketball Wife Evelyn Lazada Hosts Amaris Jones Birthday Party

Amaris Jones (r) and Evelyn Lozada 

 Shoe designer Lisa Pilner and Al Reynolds.

 Amaris shows off one of her birthday gifts. 

Tracy Mourning and Evelyn Lozada share a hug.

Amaris strikes a pose. 

 Amaris with Evelyn (in Christian Louboutin's)

Evelyn Lozada, one of the stars of VH1's upcoming Basketball Wives reality show (produced by Shaunie O'Neal) hosted a birthday party for Miami's Elite Home & Lifestyle Management firm owner, Amaris Jones at Mr. Chow's in South Beach.

Parties & Events: Essence Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon...the Good...

Jada Pinkett Smith

Tomiko Frasier

Tichina Arnold

Zoe Saldana

Serena Williams

Queen Latifah

Laila Ali

Garcelle Beauvais

Viola Davis...one day she'll figure out what to do with her hands.

Tatyana Ali

Mary J. Blige...Nice color MJB.

Camille Winbush...Where did those tatas come from?

Vanessa Williams...Very nice.

Taraji P. Henson

Tamera and Tia Mowry

Lela Rochon Fuqua...still gorgeous and your husband is fione!

Holly Robinson Peete

Vivica still a Fox.

CCH Pounder

KeKe Palmer. Such a cutie. 

 LeToya Luckett

Paula Patton

Victoria Rowell

Tracie Thoms

Alfre Woodard

and now for the bad....

No Ms. Keri Hilson!

Gabourey Sidibe: You've done better Gabby.

Joy Bryant was not a joy in this outfit.

Don't call her Miss Ross' daughter: Tracee Ellis Ross is a don't. Sorry girl.

Lisa Cortes...should've made the jacket a dress. Not feeling this floral frock.

Uhh-unh Shaun Robinson. We no likey.

Malinda Williams: Too much weave...and why do you keep losing these fine men??

Mary Mary is scary-scary. No ladies. No.

Nia Long: Yeah we know you still got it girl, but uh...no.

 Kyla Pratt: Too much weave, and it's a little lopsided.

Cicely Tyson...is that a bird. 

Kimberly Elise...if this were a summer wedding and yu were the bride yes.

Essence Magazine hosted their annual Black Women in Hollywood luncheon yesterday at the Beverly Hills Hotel yesterday.

Parties & Events: Alicia Keys & Friends Live on BillboardLive.com

Alicia Keys was joined by friends for an online concert of sorts for BillboardLive.com at the Apollo Theater on Thursday evening. Melanie Fiona,  Raheem Devaughn and  Richie Rich were just a few of her guests.

Alicia

Melanie Fiona, Raheem DeVaughn and Elle Varner.

McKenna with Alicia Keys.

Fashion Feature: Eunice W. Johnson April 4, 1916- January 3, 2010

 Mrs. Johnson is escorted by former President Bill Clinton at her husband's funeral in 2004.

Eunice W. Johnson, widow of Ebony and Jet magazines publisher died from renal heart failure at her Chicago home Sunday night.

The 93-year old fashion icon was instrumental in the success of the Johnson Publishing empire which included the Ebony Fashion Fair and Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Johnson, a native of Alabama worked alongside husband John when he first introduced Ebony magazine in 1945. Mrs. Johnson quit her job to stand alongside her man as he created what would be come the voice of African-Americans in this country.

Born in Alabama to the parentage of Dr. Nathaniel D. Walker, a well-respected physician and his educator wife Ethel McAlpine Walker, Mrs. Johnson graduated from Talladega College where she majored in sociology with a minor in art and joined the Alpha Zeta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She earned a master's degree in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago.

Ever stylish and graceful, Mrs. Johnson always had a passion for fashion, art and culture, and she enjoyed interior design as well. Her service as executive director of the Ebony Fashion Fair placed her among fashion's elite and she was never to busy to lend her time or money to those in need. Mrs. Johnson supported numerous community and educational charities.

It is rare that one gets to accomplish as much as Mrs. Johnson did in her ninety-three years. Some of us can only hope to do half as much. It is with great empathy that I honor Eunice W. Johnson and the legacy she leaves behind.

Celebrity News & Gossip: Esperanza Spalding Entertain for Obama Nobel Peace Prize Gala

Talented and beautiful, vocalist and bassists Esperanza Spalding brightened her star when she got to entertain the Obamas and guests at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. Handpicked by President Obama, the Oregon native played jazz music instead of the traditional classical music after he accepted his award. See more of the story on Essence.com.

For more information on Esperanza, visit her website: EsperanzaSpalding.com.

Photo courtesy of: WireImage.com.