Saturday, Dec. 24
Christmas Eve Services
The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, between 120 & 122 streets, N.Y., presents Worship Service for Children & Families at 4:00 p.m. & Lesson & Carols Service following the basic service of nine lessons (scripture readings) alternating with nine carols, 8:00 p.m. featuring The Riverside Choir & The Riverside Ringers. For more information, call (212) 870-6784 or visit www.theriversidechnurchny.org.
Holiday Lights
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., at St. Marks Ave., presents Light of Our Lives, exploring the symbol of light in the stories & traditions of Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hannukah, Diwali & more, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Create a light inspired craft. For ages 6 & up. For information, call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org.
Monday, Dec. 26
Kwanzaa
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., at St. Marks Ave., presents Meet the Holiday: Kwanzaa Celebration!, exploring the African-inspired holiday by learning about the traditions, culture & meaning of this holiday & create a Kwanzaa inspired craft, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Event repeated on Tues., Dec. 27. For ages 5 & under. For information, call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org.
Family Fun
The N.Y. Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, presents Winter Break Family Fun, thru 1/2/12, featuring a scavenger hunt, art making & history quiz. For information on individual event times, museum hours & admission, please call (212) 873-3400 or (212) 485-9293, for the children’s museum, or logon to www.nyhistory.org.
Tuesday, Dec. 27
Kwanzaa
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., at St. Marks Ave., presents Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, & Culture to learn about the holiday’s traditions & celebrations. Get hands-on with your Kuumba, or Creativity & take home your own Kwanzaa inspired craft, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Event repeated Thurs., Dec. 29. For ages 6 & up. For information, call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org.
Wednesday, Dec. 28
Costume Contest
The New York Historical Society’s Dimenna Children’s History Museum, 170 Central Park West, presents Historical Costume Contest, 3:00 p.m., calling all history buffs to dress up as your favorite historical figure, fictional or real. Practice walking, talking & acting like a historical figure with the museum’s acting coach, & then enter the contest. Prizes for participation & grand prize winners in time-period categories. For ages 4 – 14. For information of the event & museum hours & admission, call (212) 485-9293 or log on to www.nyhistory.org.
W.O.R.D. Up!
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., at St. Marks Ave., presents Words of Real Distinction Reading Series celebrating the art of literature & a debut Kwanzaa reading session w/Councilmember Albert Vann exploring this African-inspired holiday by viewing your Kinara & learning about the traditions, culture & meaning of the holiday. For all ages. Come early, seating is first come, first served. For information, call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org.
Holiday Open House
Radical Women is hosting a Holiday Open House featuring good conversation with others fighting for feminism & a world free of racism & war along with poetry & a sing-a-long of holiday tunes, 7:30 p.m. at Freedom Hall, 113 W 128 St., Harlem, between Malcolm X Blvd. & Seventh Ave. Admission free. Hearty dinner served at 7:00 p.m. for donation. Childcare provided. For information, call (212) 222-0633.
Friday, Dec. 30
Holiday at the Apollo
The Apollo Theater celebrates Kwanzaa with its popular annual show featuring Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Company, trombonist Craig S. Harris & the Nation of Imagination honoring the principles of Kwanzaa – family, community & culture, 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at the Apollo Theater Box Office, 253 West 125 St., or by calling (212) 531-5305 or via Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
Saturday, Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve Service
The Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Drive, between 120 & 122 streets, N.Y., presents New Year’s Eve Watch Night Service featuring Recital on the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon at 10:00 p.m.; Organ recital at 10:30 p.m. & Festival Service of Worship at 11:00 p.m. Admission free. For more information, call (212) 870-6784 or logon to www.theriversidechurchny.org.
ONGOING
Holiday Toy Drive
Dawson Promotions & Mary Hobson/Community Outreach are coordinating their annual holiday season toy drive. You may drop off unwrapped donations at the following sites in Brooklyn: Tilden Hall Residence, 2520 Tilden Ave., (718) 210-1359; PS 399, Stanley Clark School, 2702 Albermarle Rd., (718) 639-3023; Woodruff Family Residence, 155 Woodruff Ave., (718) 287-7740; & in Queens: Little Flower Children’s Services, 89-12 162nd St., (718) 526-9150. For more information & other locations, call (917) 412-4174 or (718) 285-5569 or email kdawson718@aol.com.
Holiday Donations
The Carter Burden Center for the Aging is asking for donations of craft supplies, unopened gifts for men & women, books including large print editions, photo frames, candles & most of all, your time to volunteer for filing, telephone coverage & delivering meals to homebound seniors. Donations can be sent to the Center at 1484 First Ave., N.Y. 10075. For more information, log on to www.carterburdencenter.org or contact the Development Office at (212) 879-7400 ext. 204.
Theatre Festival
The Midtown International Theatre Festival is seeking submissions for its 13th season running from July 8-Aug. 5, 2012 for all genres of stage plays, musical or otherswise, new or revived, mainstream or focused on an ethnic or culural niche. To be eligible each show must have a producer & production tream attached to the project. Applications forms & more information available online at www.midtownfestival.org. Completed applications, scripts, production materials & a non-refundable reading fee of $30 must be mailed to The Midtown International Theatre Festival, 2578 Broadway, #145, New York 10025 by Mon., Jan. 20, 2012
Food Stamp Outreach
Find out if you are eligible to receive Food Stamp benefits! A representative from the NYC Human Resources Administration will be available to assist you with eligibility pre-screening & to answer any questions every Tues. & Wed., 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Community Board 12, 4101 White Plains Road at 229 St., Bronx. For more information, call (718) 881-4455.
Adoption
“You Gotta Believe!,” a community based older child adoption agency is looking for families (regardless of age, marital status, gender or income) who would be willing to provide love & nurturing to a child in the foster care system. Classes held on Wednesdays, 6:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 2801 W 8 St., in Coney Island & Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. at Church of the Holy Redeemer, 2424 Linden Blvd. in East New York. For information, call (718) 372-3003.
Children’s Program
The Mount Carmel Worship & Outreach Center, 788 East 46 St., between Clarendon & Ave. D, Brooklyn, is offering a children’s tutoring/computer training program, standardized test preparation & job skills training program, Saturdays, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. For registration details, call (971) 609-0909.
Foreclosure Services
Are you behind in your mortgage or seeking a modification? Come in for free services & assistance to our Open House every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. To RSVP or for more information, call the Neighborhood Housing Service of East Flatbush at (718) 469-4679.
Home Improvement
Did your roof collapse? Does your boiler need replacement? Do you need major repairs done? NHS of East Flatbush, can assist you. Ask about the 5-3-5 program & Emergency Repair Program. For more information, call (718) 469-4679
Winter Aches & Pains
Jamaican Fountain Pimento Oil is an all natural, chemical & preservative free herbal medication that relieves sore muscles, stiff joints, nerve damage, circulation issues, fluid retention amongst a host of other ailments. Call Sandra at (866) 223-2414 to book a free massage appointment for your place of worship, senior citizens group or nursing home. For more information, visit www.pimentooil.com.
Compiled by Ida Eisenstein
