Sat., may. 17
bike the branches: Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) will host their second annual Bike The Branches event, a one-day bike ride through BPL’s network of 60 neighborhood libraries. Building off of biking’s long history as a central Brooklyn pastime, Bike The Branches will feature 12 unique bike routes, and a range of special events featuring prizes, music, and entertainment. All proceeds from the event will go towards library services, including programming, technology, and collections. A free helmet fitting session will take place on Tuesday, May 13 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at BPL’s Central Branch at 10 Grand Army Plaza. Free helmets will be available while supplies last. To register, visit https://apps.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/btb/.
sun., mon. 18
Haitian flag day: A free outdoor celebration of Haitian culture with live music, crafts, food and dance workshops from Noon – 6:00 p.m. Music by DJ Sabine Blaizin with co-host poet Mr. Jeff Dess, Elsie Saint-Louis of HAUP and Carine Jocelyn of Diaspora Community Services. Parkside Plaza | Located at Ocean Ave & Parkside Ave on Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY 11225,
storybook series: Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College (BCBC) concludes its 2013-14 Target Storybook Series with American Family Theater’s The Wizard of Oz. Based on L. Frank Baum’s classic book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this original musical tells the beloved story of Dorothy’s adventure over the rainbow as she follows the yellow brick road with the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion towards the Emerald City and the mysterious Wizard who can help her get home. All tickets are $7 and can be purchased by phone at 718-951-4500 (Tues-Sat, 1pm-6pm), or online at BrooklynCenterOnline.org.
tues., May. 20
first-time home buyer seminar: At the Homebuyers’ Workshop, Ridgewood Bank representatives, mortgage consultants, and a licensed architect will take participants through the home buying process — including initial decision making cost analysis, criteria for selecting the right home, and the “do’s and don’ts” of filing mortgage applications. Seminar is from 6:15 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. Held at the bank’s White Plains Road branch – 3824 White Plains Road, Bronx, NY; (718) 882-0440.
thurs., may. 22
comedy showcase: Veteran actress /comedian Angela Scott brings her funny friends William Stephenson (FX Networks “Louie”) and Rhonda “Passion” Hansome (“Saturday Night Live”) to the legendary Duplex cabaret-theater in Manhattan’s West Village for a night of laughs. The Angela Scott Show is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m. and admission is $10.00 with a two-drink minimum. For additional information and reservations, contact (212) 255-5438 / DuplexInfo@TheDuplex.com.
fri., may 23
cafe conversation: Join us for a conversation with Manzè Beaubrun; lead singer and co-founder of Boukman Eksperyans, about her new book Nan Domi: An Initiate’s Journey into Haitian Vodou, followed by a performance with Boukman Eksperyans from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. FiveMyles Gallery, 558 St. Johns Place, Brooklyn, NY 11238.
ongoing
sat., may. 3 – fri., may. 23
theatre: Following the successful, award-winning 2013 co-production of “Detroit ‘67” written by Dominique Morisseau, Dr. Barbara Ann Teer’s National Black Theatre (NBT) and The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) officially announce their second co-production. The famed Harlem arts institutions will produce the 50th Anniversary revival of “Dutchman” by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka). Carl Cofield will direct the revival. This limited engagement production of the classic political allegory of the 1960’s Black Arts Movement will pay tribute to the great Amiri Baraka and give a retrospective look at the Black Arts Movement as well as relevant current events through Community Engagements that will deepen the theatrical experience of the play. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at www.nationalblacktheatre.org or by calling NBT directly at (212) 722- 3800. NBT is located at 2031 Fifth Ave. between 125th and 126th streets in Harlem.
present – sun., jun. 22
art exhibit: Pelham Art Center is thrilled to announce the continuation of our Public Art Program, In the Courtyard, with an installation by South Carolina artist Virginia Scotchie on view in our 2,300sq.ft open courtyard from April 26 – June 22, 2014. This colorful and playful installation titled, “Spheres of Contemplation” will consist of 20 ceramic spheres varying in size from 15” – 28” in circumference and 30 – 90 pounds each. These serious yet humorous orbs reference planets, molecules, and atoms on one end of the spectrum and soccer and beach balls on the other. The viewer is invited to move from one sphere to the other in a flowing and tranquil path or to appreciate the work by sitting on a sphere and becoming part of the installation. Admission is free and open to the public. Hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Pelham Art Center 155 Fifth Avenue Pelham, NY 10803, For more information, contact (914) 738-2525.
FRI., May. 2 – sat., Jun. 28
art exhibit: Pelham Art Center is pleased to announce Big, Fat & Juicy, a group show of large-scale abstraction that pushes the boundaries of the physicality of paint. Paintings and sculptures by four New York-based artists, Emily Noelle Lambert, Dorothy Robinson, Josette Urso and Deborah Zlotsky, combine the deliberate spontaneity found in abstract painting and the inventive possibilities of paint itself, which appear here in lush and expressive ways. Big Fat & Juicy will be on view from with an opening reception, and all-age hands-on workshop on Friday, May 2 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Make sure to arrive on time to hear the Artist Talk at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Pelham Art Center 155 Fifth Ave., Pelham, NY 10803. For more information contact (914) 738-2525.
flood relief: Donations are being accepted at the Friends of Crown Heights Center located at 671 Prospect Place, Brooklyn. Donations will also be accepted by Mirtha Colon, a Garifuna from Honduras, who operates Hondurans Against Aids out of Casa Yurumein in the Bronx. Casa Yurumein is located at 874 Prospect Ave. in the South Bronx, corner of Westchester Avenue. Checks and money orders are welcomed and should be made out to “SVG Community Inc.” Anyone in the Long Island area who wishes to make a donation but cannot drive to Brooklyn, please call (347) 488-4395 to arrange a drop off or to arrange for Colon to pick up the donation. Items needed include medical supplies, non-perishable food, clothes, shoes, candles. Monetary donations can be made in the form of checks or money orders addressed to “SVG Community Inc.”
passport application center: Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) launched a second Passport Application Center at the Kings Highway Library providing a convenient facility for Brooklyn residents and new immigrants to apply for passports. Hours are temporarily set for 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. from Monday through Friday and Sunday by appointment. The Center is currently closed on Saturdays until further notice. The library is located at 2115 Ocean Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11229. To make an appointment, call (718) 230-2292 or (718) 375-3037 ext. 128.
Featuring Home REpair: Is your boiler, water main or roof in need of fixing? Do you need major repairs done but lack the finances? Now is the best time to fix it. Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush, a not-for-profit housing organization can assist you. For more information on the Home Improvement Programs, call (718)469-4679 or visit www.nhsofeastflatbush.org.
Foreclosure: Are you behind in your mortgage or seeking a modification? Come in for free services and assistance. We will help you as much as possible to keep your home. Referrals for free legal assistance are also available. To schedule an appointment or for more information, call (718) 469-4679. Sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush and the Center for New York City Neighborhoods, not-for-profit organizations. www.nhsnyc.org.
Home Help for disabled: If you are a disabled homeowner living in Brooklyn or have someone disabled living in your household, you may qualify for up to $5,000 in home repair grants. Repairs must be geared toward making the home accessible and convenient for the disabled person. Sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush, a not-for-profit housing organization, and the New York State Housing Trust Corporation. For more information, please call (718) 469-4679.
Community Center: Are you looking to improve your life? Take a class at Community Learning Center: How to Write a Book or Script, Create a Resume, How to Create Wealth, Get/Keep a Spouse, Start a Business. Classes for everyone. Community Learning Center, 147-12 Archer Ave., Queens. For more information/RSVP, call (718) 291-1094.
Donations: St. Robert Bellarmine Church is joining efforts with the Diocese of Trenton to bring relief to victims in the hardest hit areas. The church has organized a sorting sub station in the parish and will be delivering donations to various locations shortly. The church is seeking donations of cardboard shipping boxes for packing or rubber bins for storage for victims. Donations are tax deductible and the church will provide you with a receipt upon request. Feel free to contact St. Robert Bellarmine Church at any time Attn: SRB Hurricane Relief Effort, 61 Georgia Rd., Freehold, NJ 07728 or srbwelcome@gmail.com, Pam Stengel (732) 580-0075, Linda Altini (917) 578-4852. Phone: (732) 462-7429 or Fax: (732) 409-3496.
Farmers Market: Seeds in the Middle is sponsoring The Crown Heights Farmers Market offering fresh fruits and vegetables, including callaloo and Caribbean favorites and accepting EBT, WIC, Snap, FMNP, Health Bucks, and Fresh Connect. The market will be operating every Thursday from noon to 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton Metz Park at Albany and Lefferts avenues, Brooklyn. For more information, visit www.seedsinthemiddle.org.
If you have an event you would like to post in Sun Kulcha, please email your submission to Caribbeanlife@cnglocal.com. All submissions are subject to a review by the editor.
Compiled by Natalie Y. Henry
