A Single Black Girl’s Ultimate Essence Music Festival 2013 Report Card

HelloBeautifuls! It’s me, @Leighdav, Editorial Director of HelloBeautiful.com! Last weekend I had the pleasure of traveling down to New Orleans for the Essence Music Festival. I can’t remember if this year marked my fifth or sixth time taking my talents to New Orleans for the annual musical and cultural fair, but it was certainly one of the most memorable. When it comes to EMF, I believe you either “go hard or go home”, and well, I go hard. As a single lady, I quite love the shenanigans a girl can get into while on the road. From picking up new friends to ending up at breakfast at 5 a.m. with a group of strangers coincidentally staying at my hotel, check out my four day diary full of the Essence Festival Press Junket experience.

July 4th, 2013 – Day 1

6:00 a.m.: Rise and shine and time to head for the airport. Not my favorite thing to do and even worse, I’ve got to make it all the way to JFK. (F)

11:00 a.m.: Land in New Orleans. Spent the plane ride yapping with @thefashionbombdaily. It’s official, we’re about to have a blast. (A)

12:30: Spotted! Lance Gross and Nicole Murphy in the airport! Nicole Murphy is way too beautiful for life. I’m stunned by her. (A)

12:40 Courtesy car service provided by Ford. A 2013 Ford Escape, 2013 Ford Focus, 2013 Fusion and 2014 Ford Fiesta arrive to provide us roomy transportation to the hotel. Later on in the weekend Boris Kodjoe will give an actual car away on the mainstage, but most impressively Ford is donating $50 to Breast Cancer Awareness research for every test ride taken at the convention center. (A+)

1:00p.m.: Nap time (Thank God!)

4:00p.m.: We head on over to Manning’s Restaurant for the My Black Is Beautiful “Imagine a Future” dinner. The 30 minute documentary directed by Lisa Cortes and Shola Lynch chronicles the journey of a young girl named Jeanette who learns to embrace her own beauty through a journey of self-discovery and a trip to South Africa. Executive produced by Beverly Bond, Founder of Black Girls Rock!, this was a powerfully touching story that reminded the room just how much our young girls are still struggling to feel beautiful in this world. There isn’t a dry eye in the house. When the film airs on BET, every Black woman and girl should tune in. (A+)

8pm ish: Outside Manning’s we catch the tail end of the 4th of July fireworks! Now it’s time to have some fun–except @thefashionbomb is tired from her trip to Europe and ditches me for the bed. I head to the hotel bar. (D)

9:00 to 11:00p.m.: Random drinks and convos with strangers and my new fav bartender Joseph! (A)

11:30p.m.: Solo trip to the Harrah’s. There’s a club inside and Mannie Fresh is DJing. I sweet talk a bouncer in to letting me the side entrance. Score! (A+)

Midnight: Meet random group of guys. Somebody’s brother lives in Harlem, blah blah. They’re all cool. Someone buys me a drink! (A)

1:00 a.m.: Bump in to high school & college girlfriends! Yay, now I have someone to play with! (A+)

1:30 a.m.: My girlfriends ditch me to go back to their hotel. (C)

2:00 a.m.: Meet a sexy firefighter who is the size of the state of Texas. We agree to meet at the courthouse in the morning and get married. I think that’s enough for tonight. Oh yeah, and Mannie Fresh is a fun DJ. Time to go. (B+)

Overall Day 1 Grade = B

July 5th, 2013 – Day 2

7:30 a.m.: The wake-up call never comes. Keep sleeping. (F)

8:45 a.m.: Panicked texts from @thefashionbombdaily. Finally make it down to breakfast. OMG, the grits! Yum! (B+)

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Sleep! Really.good.sleep. (A+)

3:30 p.m: Champagne phone call from @thefashionbombdaily. She ordered a glass, they sent her a bottle. I’m on my way. (A)

5:00 p.m.: Dressed to impressed to attend the #Fordand dinner at Cafe Adelaide! (A+)

7:00 p.m.: Ford announces their Boris Kodjoe car giveaway! Super cute, I’m not sure if the winner will be more excited about the car or meeting Boris! Dinner is absolutely yummy, my plate is wiped clean and my cocktails were delicious! (A)

8:45 p.m.: Depart for convention center, it’s time to go see Maxwell and Jilly from Philly! (A)

9:15 p.m.: Enter the Superdome and head to VIP lounge. Bump in to @toure! (A)

9:30 p.m.: Jilly from Philly is on stage but I’m too busy yapping about the way Black single girls are depicted on TV (circa Being Mary Jane) and the generational divide. Jill isn’t singing any of my jams. I stay committed to the conversation. (B)

10:10 p.m.: Maxwell time. Let me tell you, that brotha is FINE! I’m not interested in hearing the show, but I spot my buddy @kennethwhalum on stage! Awesome! (B+)

11:30 p.m.: Maxwell isn’t moving me. Time to shake. @djdnice is spinning at some club–off I go! (B)

12:00 a.m.: Arrive at Club Eiffel with my cousins with no rsvp to the @djdiagnosis and @djdnice party. I’m not nervous. Trying to sweet talk the door lady but she’s not having it, when at that very moment, an old friend from college approaches. He’s a native New Orlean and knows the promoter. Score! We’re in! (A)

12:00 a.m. – 3:00a.m.: At this point my flats are on. Thank God this party was open bar Vodka and I don’t drink that or I’d be toast. I think I felt on a man’s chest and turned down another one’s attempt to take me home, which means, it’s time to go. That’ll be enough for tonight. (A)

Day 2 Final Grade = B+

July 6th 2013 – Day 3

7:30 a.m.: These early wake up calls are killing me. But it’s time for the McDonald’s 365 Black Awards. I’m barely alive, but off we go. (C)

9:00 a.m.: Thank you Lord Jesus! There’s breakfast in the press room and it is AMAZING. I’m alive again, time to hit the golden carpet. (A)

9:30 a.m.: The Golden carpet is star-studded. Gladys Knight, Brandy, Omari Hardwick, Beverly Johnson, Deborah Cox Estelle and more show out! Check out the pics below! (A+)

Taraji P. Henson & More Attend McDonald’s 2013 365 Black Awards

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: The 365 Black Awards are absolutely fantastic! The Gladys Knight tribute is everything and the awards are a feel good celebration of positive people doing amazing things in the community. Seeing all the Black McDonald’s owners is really awesome and the audience comedian had us in stitches. I never attended this event before but will make sure to do so from now on. And if you (like me) have never heard of Jonathan Slocumb, you should get familiar. He is hysterical and kept the audience in stitches. The show airs on BET in August. (A+)

4:00p.m.: The time has arrived. To bourbon street we go. (B)

4:30p.m.: A hand grenade! (A++)

5:15 p.m.: I have secured Mardi Gras beads. (A)

5:30p.m. – 7:30p.m.: “What happens on Bourbon street…: (A+)

7:30p.m.: It’s raining again. (D)

8:00p.m. to 9:00p.m.: Random Bourbon street meal. Flirtations with 24 year-olds celebrating a birthday sitting at the table beside us. (B)

9:30p.m.: Time to go see New Edition. (A)

10:00 p.m.: Headed up to the TV ONE VIP Suite to check out Biz Markie and grab some drinks. Spot @rhapsodani and @gorgeousingrey for some laughs. Uh oh, Charlie Wilson just ended time to get to our seats!

10:10 p.m. – 12 a.m.: New Edition shuts it down! (A)

12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.: Mind your business! (A+)

Day 3 Final Grade = B+

Day 4, July 7th, 2013

8:00 a.m.: Returns to hotel. Goes to sleep.

3:00 p.m.: Wakes up. Call time is 3:15 for dinner and Beyonce. Get dressed in 9 minutes. (C)

3:20 p.m.: All head out to Dooky Chase for some authentic NOLA cuisine and a chat with Will Packer and Chrisette Michele courtesy of Verizon. (A)

3:45 p.m.: Will Packer and Chrisette discuss how technology is influencing and changing the way they work as artists. Will Packer says speed is everything and Verizon has always helped him stay on top of the game. Chrisette and Verizon go way back since chirp phones. She loves the ability to connect directly with her fans. (A)

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.: The most yummy dinner ever at Dooky Chase. And for dessert…this happened…. (A++)

6:00 p.m: Depart for Superdome. On the main stage tonight, Beyonce, Janelle Monae and TGT (not in that order). Traffic is beyond nuts and I’ve got to go to the little girls room. This is all bad. (D)

7:00 p.m.: This is probably the earliest arrival in the history of arrivals in my years of Essence going to the Superdome, and because no one else is here yet, it is FREEZING cold inside. Everyone grabs a free drink from the VIP lounge and huddles together to keep warm.

8:00 p.m.: Tyrese, Genuwine and Tank are on stage. This is bizarre. Genuwine doesn’t perform “So Anxious,” so I’m over it.

8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.: Lots of random backstage Instagramming and picture taking until my phone is about to die. Due to the previous cocktail consumption, I now forget my charger is in my purse and will never charge my phone again for the duration of the evening.

9:10 p.m.: Janelle Monae on the main stage. She absolutely kills it though the Superdome is slow to warm up to her. She finally wins them over with a roof shattering delivery of “Smile” followed up by some classic Prince and closing out with the rockin’ “Cold War”. I don’t care what NOLA says, she did that. (A+)

10:00 p.m.: Beyonce time! Head back to VIP quickly for a bathroom break and a gin and tonic refill! We ready!

10:30 p.m.: Ladies and Gentlemen…Beyonce! See below!

2013 Essence Music Festival Mainstage Performers

Somewhere around 1 a.m.: This happened!

Day 4 Final Grade = A++

Overall Essence Music Festival Press Junket Experience Grade = A

Shout out to @sekouwrites @divasanddorks @yoliouiya @deedeefaison @MsMab @jawnmurray and the rest of the junket crew for an amazing weekend!

More Exclusive Essence Festival Coverage:

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Chante Moore: ‘I’m Looking For Mr. Right Now, Not Mr. Right’ [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]

Trina & Traci Braxton Deliver A Special Message To Baby Logan [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]

Morris Chestnut Reveals His Cast Crush From ‘Best Man Holiday’ [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO]