Taylor Armstrong

High-powered reality star Taylor Armstrong recently hit the Windy City where ChicagoPride.com caught up with her on the red carpet of Enclave Nightclub.

The 39-year-old entrepreneur is one of Bravo's hot new Housewives. The Beverly Hills series, now in its second season, has quickly become one of the most popular in the Houswives series airing on Bravo.

Tragedy struck for Armstrong in August when her husband Russell committed suicide after the show's second season was taped. The entire season was re-edited.

This season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has closely documented Taylor's shaky relationship with her late husband.

Making a fresh start for the new year, Taylor celebrated New Year's Eve in Chicago.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hi, Taylor. It is great celebrating New Years Eve here with you.

TA: (Taylor Armstrong) I am very happy to be in Chicago and hosting such a fun party.

JN: I love that there is a Joan Rivers impersonator here. We have to talk about the gay following for the Real Housewives.

TA: I love my gays! I just did my photo shoot with Adam Bouska for the NOH8 Campaign. It was a great crowd as we all lined up for the picture. I hope more people continue doing this to fight Prop 8.

JN: I was hoping you could hit the gay bars later. I know Hydrate Nightclub requested you to stop by.

TA: I love that name. I am going to be busy here tonight but maybe tomorrow night.

JN: Has it been hard to watch the show?

TA: It has been a difficult time but I am getting through it. My daughter Kennedy has been very supportive.

JN: Is she here in Chicago with you?

TA: No, she wanted to celebrate with her friends back home. It is a tradition now. This is a new beginning for us and she has such a positive outlook on life. We are both on a good path.

JN: There has been some time since the show was filmed.

TA: Yes, many people don't understand that. They think it is happening right now. We filmed that over eight months ago.

JN: Do you have a BFF from the Beverly Hills show?

TA: I would say Kyle Richards. We are very close. I also like Lisa and the other members of the cast. We are all good friends.

JN: You have a book coming out called Hiding From Reality: My Story of Love, Loss and Finding the Courage Within.

TA: Yes, it comes out February 7th. It really shows the terrible violence that I suffered. I hope readers can use my book to help them find courage. I am putting it all out there and came from my journaling in the past. It was not easy going back through it and reliving part of it.

JN: You can do a big book tour for the New Year.

TA: Yes, I will be all over the place.

JN: How has it been working with CÎROC and Sean "Diddy" Combs?

TA: It has been wonderful. They have a program that I didn't know about until I signed up. Their safe rides program has them giving out $15 gift cards outside by the CTA stops so people can use them on taxis and trains. I am all for having a good time but I want people to be safe and responsible.

JN: What is a good drink recipe for CÎROC vodka?

TA: I like it on the rocks with lime and a little simple syrup. I don't like it too sweet though.

JN: What is your website?

TA: It is taylorarmstrong.com. It has info on my charity, 1736 Family Crisis Center, my book and an upcoming blog.

JN: Sounds great. Let's have some CÎROC, cheers!

Visit www.bravotv.com for listings and details about the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Enclave is located at 220 West Chicago Avenue. For future events visit www.enclavechicago.com.