New York, January 28, 2009 – The Bryant Park Hotel conveniently hosted two celebrity press conferences on Wednesday morning, so we were able to just ride the elevator and avoid the snowy mess outside. 

First, entrepreneur Russell Simmons announced his new role as editor-in-chief of hip-hop Web site globalgrind.com, in which he has invested, and for which he blogs.  Simmons called the job “another chance for me further to serve the interests of the hip-hop community.”  LL Cool J accompanied Simmons at the press conference.

Then, we followed the smell of chocolate up to the hotel’s 21st floor, where Brooke Shields unveiled the second annual Godiva Decadence Suite, designed by Jonathan Adler.  And decadent it was, with actual furniture, including a headboard and a dining table made from Godiva chocolate. 

“It’s been so fun for me to work in a new medium, to see my designs rendered in chocolate,” Adler said.  “It’s completely mind-expanding; it’s been a little bit waist-expanding, too.”  Shields noted that a grand prize winner would get to stay in the Godiva suite, and added, “It is true that chocolate, laughter and sex all release the same endorphins, so just imagine what’s going to be going on in this suite with the winner.”