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October,
2003
New Bed and Breakfast in the
Nation's Capital to celebrate African-American
literature. Grand opening Saturday, October 11 will
feature more than 25 prominent authors of color. Monique Greenwood has become a mini-mogul in
the hospitality industry with the opening of
her third inn-Akwaaba D.C. The elegant bed-and-breakfast
in Washington's posh Dupont Circle historic district
is sister to the award-winning Akwaaba Mansion
in Brooklyn, New York, and to the historic Akwaaba
by the Sea in Cape May, New Jersey, the country's
oldest seaside resort.
A book lover, published author and founding
president of the country's largest reading group
for Black women, Monique listened to her heart
and uniquely themed Akwaaba D.C. to celebrate
Black America's rich literary legacy. "There
are sports and entertainment halls of fame, but
no place that justly recognizes Black literature," says
Greenwood. "And while many inns name rooms
after family members or historical figures, Zora
Neal Hurston, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison
and Walter Mosley are certainly deserving of
such a distinction." In addition to these
namesake suites, the 1890s brownstone inn features
four genre rooms: Science Fiction, Romance, Poetry
and Inspiration.
"My greatest joy, ultimately, will be seeing
guests enjoy the inn as they create lasting memories,
but so far I've had a great time decorating the
rooms to reflect the personalities of the authors
or the sensibilities of the genres," says
Greenwood, former editor-in-chief of Essence
magazine. A rich red room with an antique brass
bed and a stunning window seat is perfect for
the adventurous spirit of Harlem Renaissance
writer Zora Neal Hurston, while her contemporary,
Langston, inspires a classy, chocolate brown
room with heavy wood furniture, beaded and bronze
twin chandeliers and a fourth-floor balcony with
a view of the Washington Monument. The culturally
affirming Toni Morrison suite boasts warm earth
tones and handmade African artifacts and furnishings,
while Walter Mosley's suite features the mystery
of his books with its deep blue walls, velvet-draped
windows, black chiffon draped bed and writer's
desk complete with an antique portable typewriter.
The entire inn will be available for touring
at a grand opening celebration on Saturday, October
11, 2003 from 12 noon until 7 pm. Open and free
to the public, guests will enjoy live jazz and
refreshments as they move from room to room meeting
authors who will talk about their work and sign
books, which will be available for purchase.
Confirmed best-selling authors include Walter
Mosley, who will cut the ribbon to his room;
Valerie Boyd, author of Wrapped Rainbows, the
definitive biography on Zora Neal Hurston, who
will cut Zora's ribbon; and E. Lynn Harris and
Marita Golden, who will cut the ribbon for the
writer's retreat. Also invited are best-selling
authors Bernice McFadden, Bebe Moore Campbell,
Connie Briscoe, Benilde Little, Collin Channer,
Donna Hill, Pamela Newkirk, Valerie Wilson Wesley,
Grace Edwards, Edward P. Jones, Asha Bandele
and many more. Aspiring authors will especially
appreciate meeting the honored guests in the
writers' retreat: Literary critic, author and
Essence Books Editor Patrick Henry Bass; leading
literary agent Marie Brown; renowned literary
publicists Vanesse Lloyd Sgmbati and Gilda Squire;
and Harlem Moon book publisher Janet Hill.
Whether traveling for business or for pleasure,
with a beau or a book club, guests at Akwaaba
D.C. will be spoiled by the company's award-winning
high-touch hospitality. Room rates, including
breakfast and afternoon refreshments, range from
$135 to $195 per night, and the company expects
to post sales of $200,000 in its first year. "We
anticipate an equal mix of business and leisure
travelers, and we are most excited about serving
book clubs who travel and retreat together," says
Greenwood, co-founder of the Go On Girl! Book
Club, which has nearly 40 chapters nationwide.
Akwaaba D.C. also houses a tropical-inspired
writer's retreat, which is a complete apartment
with a private entrance, where authors can enjoy
a productive two-week stay at no cost and start,
advance or finish that book! "When I was
writing Having What Matters: The Black Woman's
Guide to Creating the Life You Really Want I
desperately needed to escape to a place with
no distractions where I could focus on my work.
Akwaaba D.C. will be that place for more than
20 writers each year," declares Greenwood.
She adds the writer's retreat is the perfect
sponsorship opportunity for a national brand
to partner with Akwaaba to advance literacy.
In addition, twice a month Akwaaba D.C.'s gracious
parlor will become a literary salon where the
public is invited, free of charge, to experience
stimulating book readings and signings by today's
leading authors of color. Crystal Bobb-Semple,
owner of Brownstone Books in Brooklyn, New York,
is coordinating the author series.
"We have introduced a novel concept with
our themed literary inn, but what will continue
to distinguish Akwaaba is our home-style hospitality.
While guests will enjoy our rare books, scrumptious
breakfasts, Jacuzzi tubs, custom toiletries,
and tech amenities including telephones with
voicemail, cable TVs with VCR, clock radios with
CD players and jacks for internet access, it's
the fellowship with other guests and the personal
attention of innkeepers who know the secrets
of the city that guests will most appreciate," concludes
Greenwood, a native Washingtonian, who says "Akwaaba
D.C. is her homecoming party."
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