The Quest for "it"

Touchdown! Tia Walker Hangs with Dallas Cowboys Owner JerryJones

Hello!

 

Looks like an honest real life declaration was all it took last month at the 58th International Debutante Ball for Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker to get a hold of Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones Superbowl ring.  

Jones who was in New York City for the evening to attend the historic cotillion, to end all cotillions, was present at the Waldorf Astoria in support of his two lovely granddaughters were being presented to society.

After Walker was informed that Jones was present she told him what a diehard lifelong fan her Grandma was.  After a few pleasantries and Jones pointing out his lovely family to the blogger--it was time for a photo.  Several failed attempts on her Blackberry, of the two together, prompted Jones to whip off his Superbowl ring (we're not sure which one) and place it on Walker 's finger saying "let's really give your Grandma something to see!"

Touchdown!

*photo by The Quest for "it" via Blackberry

Tabber Benedict & Tia Walker Host the First Annual Post-Walk Celebration to Benefit Breast Cancer Victims

Hello!

New York based M&A Attorney Tabber Benedict wrapped up his hard work for Avon Foundation's  Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on Thursday evening Nov. 3rd with Co-Host Tia Walker at the Milavec Hakimi Gallery. The intimate East Village space proved an ideal venue for to toast the success of  the first annual Post-Walk sponsored by ProTexting, The Quest for "it" and Milano Green Vodka.

Greeted warmly by Benedict, who was dresed in black tie, guests gathered to enjoy Milano Green Vodka cocktails while perusing the current exhibit photographic art works.  Overheard were brief conversations on everything from Occupy Wallstreet to what the remainder of the evening would entail.

At 7:45 pm  all assembled to hear Co-Host Tia Walker speak on the results of Benedict's Breast Cancer walk experience.  Benedict, on October 15th and 16th collectively walked over 30 miles and raised over $2500 in total based on online and in person donation.  Each event will now be annual campaigns to benefit breast cancer victims and raise awareness for early reporting and detection. Walker, shimmering in a THEIA cocktail dress and Lia Sophia jewelry thanked guests for their support and re-iterated the importance of early detection.

Notable attendees included: Dawne Marie-Grannum, Berry Brown, Karen Biehl, Matt Wayne, Kim Bates, Julia Weatherall, Paul Johnson Calderon,  and Brian Lehman.

10% of sales of artwork in the Milavec-Hakimi gallery were given to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer charity.

*photo courtesy of Andrew Toth/Patrick McMullan 

 

 

Tabber Benedict and Tia Walker Host First Annual Pre-Walk Luncheon to Benefit Victims of Breast Cancer

Hi,

Over the weekend on Saturday October 1st, the First Annual Pre-Walk Luncheon to Benefit Breast Cancer  Hosted by Tabber Benedict & Tia Walker took place.  A select crowd of the city's well-heeled socials descended to the Soho residence of, Entrepreneur and former Classical Musician, Edward Scott Brady for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer fundraiser.

For several weeks Tabber Benedict, a New York based M & A Attorney, had planned the benefit luncheon to raise additional monies for the upcoming Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, slated for the upcoming weekend of October 15 & 16th.  The inspiration for 

Benedict's involvement in the cause? The loss of his Aunt Sheila to cancer after the disease metastasized and claimed her life in 1997. Close friend and Breast Cancer Survivor Tia Walker served as Co-Host and Guest Speaker at the luncheon--speaking on early detection and awareness. Walker, Founder of Save the Eggs, a conduit program that raises monies for Breast Cancer/Fertility related organizations was diagnosed in February 2008 and completed treatment in December of the same year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over light bites and beverage members of  fashion, medical and society worlds chatted about the upcoming walk, and other happenings in the posh nearly 2,000 sq. foot space. Guests included: Dr. Mario Lacouture of Memorial Sloan Kettering, Designer Victor De Souza, Berry Brown of BB Gramercy, TV Personality Paul Johnson Calderon, TV Perosnality Karen Biehl and Celebrity Magician Matt Wayne,  Model/Recording Artist Nick Hissom, Victor Medina San Andres, and socials  Dawne Marie Grannum, Elizabeth Stockton Howard, Julia Wetherell, and Rachel Heller.

For more information on the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer  please visit www.avonwalk.org or to contribute directly to Tabber Benedict' s Donation page click here.

***-The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is the Avon Foundation’s largest annual fundraising initiative, and also one of the largest fundraising programs in the country. From 2003 through 2010, the Avon Walks have raised more than $380 million - funds that are directly saving lives. The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer also raises extraordinary awareness as participants spend an entire weekend walking 39 miles through cities and towns around the country. In 2010 alone, thousands of donors supported more than 21,000 Walkers and Crew raising more than $55 million in the national 9-event series.

*photos courtesy of Ann Watt

 

FIRST LOOK PHOTOS: Fete de Forty--Celebrating the 40th Birthday of Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker

Hello!

Mum was the word for the last week or so as plans were made for Fete de Forty celebrating the 40th birthday of Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker.  After much fanfare the cladestinely planned soiree took off without a hitch. The Midtown West location of Flute Champagne Bar and Lounge was a mecca for the fierce and fashionable  as Flute Owner Herve Rousseau (see photo at left), a long time friend, sponsored the three-hour event on behalf of Ms.Walker—welcoming well over a hundred eager guests to the swank jewel-box sized watering hole.   

A select group of New York City’s fashion industry luminaries showed dressed to the hilt including: Renowned Designer Gemma Khang, Legendary Supermodel Alva Chinn, Designer Maggie Norris, Socialite Alexa Winner, TV Personality Malik So Chic, Recording Artist Candi Lynn, Celebrity Stylist Lauren Rae Levy, Shaokao & Niki Cheng, Tana Chung & Ethan Park and others.

To follow are select photos from the soiree. 

*photos by Ann Watt

Left to Right: Malik So Chic; To-Tam & To-Nya Sachika; Tia Walker, Peggie Walker, Alexa Winner; Alva Chinn & Peggie Walker; Shaokao & Niki Cheng; Guest & Chance von Spiessbach; Roy Kean; Tia Walker & Anita Sarko

The Results of Cupcakes and Cocktails for a Breast Cancer Cure Benefiting Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

                                                                Hi,

One week ago today,  Tuesday October 13th, Charity Scene presented Cupcakes and Cocktails for a Breast Cancer Cure, at the Meat Packing District's Tenjune.  Benefiting American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, the event produced by Jen Marden: NY, honored recent breast cancer survivor Tia Walker.  

The evening began with an initial cocktail hour, offering attendees an opportunity to meet and mingle, with several guests discussing how breast cancer had affected either their families or their friends.  Over cupcakes served by Baked by Melissa,  guests were able to bond through a common cause while enjoying the sounds of DJ Tweed.

As the initial cocktail hour drew to a close, Jen Marden took to a nearby microphone thanking Charity Scene's event organizer Laureen Lipsky before introducing Ms. Walker.  As guest speaker, Ms. Walker reviewed a few key facts about the recipient charity, specifically that continued funding of American Cancer Society allows for: funding research for breast cancer conserving surgery, establishing mammograms as a gold standard for early detection, etc.  Additionally, she reviewed her own breast cancer story of discovery, diagnosis, and the process by which she handled the treatment of the disease.

Cupcakes and Cocktails for a Breast Cancer Cure raised $2,632 with net proceeds going to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

 *photo courtesy of Steve Mack/Getty Images North America

Save The Eggs Benefit Cocktails 2009 Presented by Diamond Club Jewelry Celebrates Women in Style!

                                                            Hey There!

One week ago today the New York Chapter of The Williams Club, Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker, the creative voice of The Quest for "it" held her Second Annual Save the Eggs Benefit Cocktails in support of the very worthy cause of Breast Cancer advocacy.  A Celebration of Women was the theme for Save the Eggs Benefit Cocktails 2009--an event that championed women and health at every turn. Heading up the effort, alongside Ms. Walker was corporate sponsor Johnny Magzalcioglu of Diamond Club Jewelry as well as co-chairs Peggie Walker, Executive Editor of The Quest for”it” and PR darling cumme New York Socialite Emma Snowdon-Jones (see photo at left second from left) who each served as co-chairs the previous year.  

A Celebration of Women made possible through the Tia Walker Breast Cancer Initiative, known as Save the Eggs is a grass roots effort designed at raising funds and awareness, and will benefit the New York based fertility resource for Cancer Patients, known as Fertile Hope.  From 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm a selection of 4 scrumptious passed hors d’oeuveres accompanied by red and white wine and  Sonu Water, the beverage filled with electrolytes and vitamins, were served.   Self  Magazine, the women’s health and lifestyle publication, was prominently featured as was the Russian high fashion quarterly magazine Depesha for guests to peruse at their leisure. This year’s benefit cocktails, was headlined by Diamond Club Jewelry who elegantly dressed this year’s  female co-chairs in exquisite diamond pieces that included for Tia Walker an 18k white gold circle pendant with a matching bracelet; Ms. Snowdon-Jones an 18k white gold necklace of both round and marquise cut diamonds with matching bracelet and earrings; and for Peggie Walker a 14k white gold necklace also with matching bracelet and earrings.  Designer Christine Marchuska dressed both Tia Walker and Peggie Walker in her chic eco-friendly fashion which meant the Leslie dress and Robin dress respectively, both in rich black.

 The evening was offset by a mini silent auction offering an array of items that included top bid picks: MG by Meredith Griffin, Helene Necklace, and Dinner for 2 at Grammercy newcomer Barbounia.  Giftbags were $350 in value, a true “gift” in comparison to the $80 entry price. Gift bags contained tony items from elite sponsors: Diamond Club Jewelry, Depesha Magazine, Self Magazine, Sonu Beverages, KIR, Borghese, Sleek MedSpa, Tracy Stern Salon Tea, CMarchuska etc. 
 

This year’s festivities welcomed celeb guests Alex McCord (see second photo above) and Simon van Kempen of the Real Housewives of New York City and Kimberly Leemans (see photo at left) of America’s Next Top Model Cycle 9.  The Save the Eggs Benefit Cocktails 2009 Host Committee was comprised of: Alex McCord & Simon van Kempen, Benjamin Emile Le Hay, Stephanie Newhouse, Douglas Marshall, Designer Christine Marchuska, Juliana Ilvento, Jeremy Logan-Cavendish, Larry Zarsky & Rob Levin Icon Group

*photos by Amber De Vos/Patrick McMullan

The Results of the Jen Marden and Tia Walker Birthday Extravaganza

                                                  Hey There!

Well and so it goes, another year another birthday, but what a party it was! We had no idea that the once smoking hot red room (aka VIP) (aka back room of Marquee) had turned into a dimly lit lil mini club all to itself... but so it goes.  On Saturday night, December 6th guests gathered to wish Jen Marden and Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker, that's moi, a very HAPPY birthday.  Our 11:15 pm entry, after an initial meet up at nearby Glass Lounge, was headed up by super suave uber doorman Wass Stevens--whose beautiful espresso brown fur coat was as eye catching as our own designer dresses, HUH? As we were personally escorted to our tables, by longtime event coordinator Deniece Williams (no not the singer), we reveled in the fact that the venue was not yet inhabited by clubbers...AMAZINGLY special.  Our tables, which at first were free of the multitude's, began to fill promptly at 11: 30 pm.  The earliest to arrive were friends Alex McCord and husband Simon van Kempen from the Real Housewives of New York City, who got a bit CRAZY with the camera poses.  Next was Jen Marden's crowd of sexy sirens, and soon enough more people than we could count.  Notably in attendance this year were Designer and Celebrity Stylist Indashio of VH1's Glam God fame, Fashion Trend Forecaster Kim Bates (see photo below with Tia Walker), Designer Juan Mendez (see photo below with Tia Walker), Event Photographers Steve Mack and Richard Brill and Fashion Photographer Victor Medina-Andres, a personal favorite of Jen Marden's.

As the 42 Below vodka flowed, and the music cranked even louder than mere words can express, it became more difficult to follow anyone's comings and goings.  The birthday girls (that would be us) made more than a few trips to the front door of the club to make sure that people could even "get in" as the line wrapped around the corner on this one of the coldest, wettest nights this year.  Designer and Celeb Stylist Indashio partied the hardest with 2 fashion industry friends--was it 1999?  It may have been for this sub-group.  Celeb Blogger Tia Walker was busy getting Blackberry shots of her attire -- The Robin dress -- a silk stunner in fuschia by Designer Lydia Park, and her bling for the evening, Swarovski crystal bracelets, necklace and ring all by Philippe Audibert (Paris).  Jen Marden, freshly tanned and elegantly coiffed wearing a sleek black cocktail dress, was busy with friends and boyfriend Corey who at every turn reminded her that she was clearly a well-loved chick; the photos of each other together were non-stop.  Said evening came to a close not long after the delivery of the super sweet Buttercup Bake Shop cake supplied by friend Erica Beberman.  The chants to 50 Cent and the huge  burning sparkler that led the way through the room felt more like New Year's Eve than anything else! Aura our bottle service vixen held out a small round cake with just a few multi-colored candles.  We can attest that there was  NOT time to make a  proper birthday wish as it was CHAOS at the table. Yet and still, the candles were blown out and the party continued! 

Later, the crowd changed over to mostly men in suits; YES, even on a Saturday night New York City's mega-lounge can get a suit crowd.  We hear car loads of people were just arriving from the St. Jude's event at the Puck Building.  Before long midnight had turned to 1 o'clock and 1'oclock turned to 2 o'clock and so on. Every one left HAPPY, and well buzzed, except for moi--my drinking days are over. Special thanks this year goes to Marquee owner Noah Tepperberg, Marquee's Director of Promotions Rich Thomas, to all of the WONDERFUL photographers who captured this event and ANYONE else that may have had some hand in the evening.  Thanks again and see you next year!  OK--NOT!  I plan on some sort of PRIVATE non-documented soiree in 2009 ... WHAT did you think, I'd include you EVERY year...

;)

Ciao!

*photos by Richard Brill

TONIGHT: Jen Marden and Tia Walker Birthday Extravaganza

                                        Hi!

One would think after a rather HOT bday party last year at the now defunct Lotus I would be rip-roaring to go again this year, bigger and BETTER right? WRONG! Truly, I was going to let the party thing pass right by this year--after all, I've had quite a year.  However, when I was approached by fellow Sag Jen Marden, and after back and forth with an eventual venue choice of Marquee, I decided to say YES to a party! 

Oddly, last year Marquee is where I ended my night, in fact myself and a few others were a bit, um....toasted.  I had quite a time making trips to the DJ booth to visit friend  DJ Erick Lapeau--someone broke a glass in the upstairs room--I ran into promoters--I unknowingly sat in the section belonging to promoters I had not laid eyes on in 2 YEARS--and the list goes on.

Looks like TONIGHT will be a LOT different; we've got the VIP room, Strippers (ONLY KIDDING)...no seriously a catrillion guests, celebs and apparently cupcakes....STAY TUNED!!!!

The EXCLUSIVE on Chudney Ross has Arrived!

                                                                   Hi!

So how was the recent New York Fashion Week Spring 2009? For some it was a whirlwind of walking the runways, meeting with dear friends, and hitting the parties! Unfortunately, not so for Celebrity Lifestyle Blogger Tia Walker of The Quest for "it", whose self-imposed mission this season was to get a REAL hard news story.  A story on someone who LOVES Fashion Week as much as we do, who fits the "hip and social" criteria of this here blog, AND who most of all is the epitome of a chick on the quest.  Yes, we did an EXCLUSIVE on the beautiful and talented Socialite & Author Chudney Ross, the famed youngest daughter of the legendary and internationally acclaimed singer Diana Ross, and oh yes, this is a GOOD ONE! Click here for MORE

*photo by Derrick Salters

Tia Walker Breast Cancer Announcement--I Have Breast Cancer

The following announcement was made to (6) National Breast Cancer Organizations on Thursday, March 20th, 2008. 

                              Dear The Quest for "it" Readers,

03/20/08-New York, NY- On February 27, 2008, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.  The news, a result of several radiologist tests including a mammogram, sonogram, and core biopsy, was conclusive that cancer cells were present in an existing lump found in my right breast.  After an initial consultation with the required specialist, and then a second opinion from a prominent New York Breast Surgeon, I am currently being treated through St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital on Manhattan's Upper Westside.  The illness, although not life threatening at this stage, is expected to require 4 months of chemotherapy followed by a lumpectomy if my condition responds positively to treatment.  This news comes as a dismal reality for me an exuberant 37-year-old blogger/freelance writer who currently resides in New York City. I am currently unmarried with no children.

As one of New York City's own, I have made blogging about art, fashion, media and entertainment/ nightlife on my blog The Quest for "it" a way of life. Quality select reporting on many of New York City's more exclusive events have thankfully propelled me to a level that most bloggers never realize.   Noteworthy, events have included: Mercedes Benz Fashion Week FALL 2007/SPR 2008, Tribeca Film Festival 2007, CineVegas Film Festival 2007, Red Envelope Gift Giving Party, Russell Simmons' Art for Life East Hampton Gala 2007, Hollywood in the Hamptons, La Dona Maria Felix Celebration@ Christie's. The 8th Annual Love Heals, Fashions from An American icon: The Nan Kempner Collection @ Christie's, etc. My image can be found on the celebrity pages of Wire Image, Patrick McMullan, Film Magic, Getty Images, Star Tracks Photo, etc.

After seven years of previous charitable involvement with Children's Aid Society from 1994 to 2000, as well as three years with GMHC, and a short stint with Gen Art (the national arts related non-profit) I am compelled to take on the very worthy cause of Breast Cancer advocacy. I am currently a patient living with breast cancer and staying active in my writing  as well as reaching out to organizations that can be helped by my story and my time.  Editorial coverage of Breast Cancer Awareness and events on both a local and national level are forthcoming on The Quest for "it" in the near future.  Most immediately, I am looking to set up a series of fundraisers aimed at defraying the cost of egg harvesting.  Egg harvesting, a particular need of younger women undergoing breast conservation, protects eggs from the harmful effects of chemotherapy, known to bring the onset of early menopause, details also forthcoming.  Do share this story with those you know and I can be of help to your organization in any way, kindly contact me through the contact information provided.

About The Quest for "it"

The Quest for "it" is a celebrity/lifestyle blog that draws readers interested in the hottest account of celebrity encounters, high-end events, fashion related happenings, and the nightlife, primarily in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami & London. Celebrity/lifestyle Blogger Tia Walker is the voice behind the quest--giving hard and fast information as well as analysis of the arts, designers, various publications, and the nightlife. Savvy insights, real life disappointments, real life successes, and celebrity encounters are shared through a unique perspective.

Media Contact:

Peggie Walker- "The Quest for "it"

(212) 252-2044

pwalker@thequestforit.com

For Written Correspondence:

The Quest for "it"
25 St. Nicholas Terrace #1
New York, NY 10027

Based on the above circumstances, personally I will be writing less, please look for more posts from The Quest for "it"s Guest Bloggers after April 2nd.  If you are interested in learning about or sharing in my personal journey with Breast Cancer please visit my blog on the National Breast Cancer Foundation site.  Feel free to drop me a line at the above address or comment, I of course welcome cheery thoughts.

XOXO

Tia-

Media Co

Peggie W