The Urban Carrie Bradshaw is local artist Lena Hopkins-Jackson's alter ego — sort of.

And even though the cartoon is sexy, she was born out of political disgust. Jackson said in 2008 she wasn't happy with the way some political cartoonists were treating then-Sen. Barack Obama. She published posts on her blog about the character as a way to talk about the president in her way.

But, Jackson said, after the election she stopped blogging as much; however, she didn't want to let the character die.

"I haven't been blogging like I used to. What's going on now is a departure from politics and moving toward pop culture, and I wanted to do an animated cartoon to get people's attention and attract them to the blog," she said. "I partnered with Urban Tymes Magazine and the plan is every month to do a column about things that are going on in the city."

To launch The Urban Carrie Bradshaw into the public's mind, Hopkins-Jackson is hosting a party this Friday night that will include a showing of the animated short starring the chocolate city girl; some sexy poetry from a Punany Poet; Aalanie Renee; Charlotte's voice of the Quiet Storm, Preston Miles, who also does the voice of the boyfriend in the cartoon; and more at the Shhh Sensual Poetry and Jazz show. The event, which is Friday starting at 9 p.m., will be held at Allure, 1508 S. Mint St.

"The way to go with this was to make it a grown-and-sexy event," Jackson said. "There will be chocolate strawberry tasting, people are going to come dressed in sexy attire and all of that kind of stuff. It's the kind of event that [The Urban Carrie Bradshaw] would go to if she were a real person."

Want to go?

Tickets can be purchased at Expressions Hair Salon and Weeve Works

2601 North Tryon St Suite# D

Charlotte, NC 28206-2713

(704) 343-0023

Or Online at:  www.pinkdiamondpromo.com/