Friday, Dec. 16
Winter Solstice Feast
The Brooklyn Fire Proof, 120 Ingraham St., Brooklyn, is hosting, The Winter Solstice Feast 2011, a party & benefit for Bushwick Farmers’ Market featuring local restaurants preparing food grown by the students at Bushwick Campus Farm, 7:00 p.m. – midnight. For reservations, donation suggestions & volunteer information, visit www.BushwickFarmersMarket.org.
Comedy/Variety
No Name Comedy/Variety celebrates the holiday season at Otto’s, 538 East 14 St., between Avenues A & B, N.Y., with shows on Fri., Dec. 16 & 23, 7:00 p.m., featuring the sounds of The Summner Replacements with Carl Fortunato & Seth Sugarfingers Foster. No cover, no minimum. For more information, call (212) 228-2240.
Business Workshop
HABNET Chamber of Commerce, responding to the Haitian community’s need for business education, cultural functions, TPS assistance & more is hosting the Tax Savings Strategies for the Small Business workshop at Crystal Manor, 1460 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. For information, call (877) 278-9143.
Saturday, Dec. 17
Kwanzaa
The People of the Sun Middle Passage Collective will hold its annual Kwanzaa celebration featuring spoken word, song, & dance along with vendors providing an array of items for sale beginning at 5:00 p.m. Prior to the celebration, The Collective will host a Feed the Needy & Homeless event with food, clothing & children’s gifts being distributed beginning at 1:00 p.m. All activities will be held in the Carroll Street Gymnasium, 1150 Carrol St., Brooklyn. For information, contact Akeem at (718) 270-4902.
Ballet Hispanico
The Apollo Theatre, 253 West 125 St., Harlem, presents Ballet Hispanico featuring the best of Latino dance & music, 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by calling (212) 531-5305 or via Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, or visiting www.ticketmaster.com.
Tree Lighting
Council Member Leroy Comrie is hosting the 10th Annual Tree Lighting and Toy Drive, Liberty Park, 173 Street between 106 and 107 avenues, Queens, 2:00 p.m. Toys will be distributed to children & families in the area. There will also be a special appearance by Mr. Met. For more information, call (347) 931-8991 or visit grose@council.nyc.gov.
Santa Visits the Museum
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. at St. Marks Ave., is hosting a visit from Santa, 12 noon – 3:00 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to tell Santa what’s on your Christmas list & pose for a family portrait including a special keepsake frame. For more information, call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org.
Sunday, Dec. 18
Carol Festival
The Riverside Church, 490 Riverdside Drive, between 120 & 122 streets, N.Y. celebrates the beauty of the season through song with its Candlelight Carol Festival featuring music from around the world, culminating with “Silent Night” in the Nave illuminated by a sea of candle flames held by Riversiders, 3:30 p.m. & 6:00 p.m. For more information, call (212) 870-6784 or visit www.theriversidechurchny.org.
Museum Activities
The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave. at St. Marks Ave., presents a day of activities for children 2 1/2 & up including Winter Wildlife featuring how animals stay warm at 11:30 a.m., A Drop in the Bucket on how to keep our drinking water safe, 1:30 p.m., & The Live Animal Encounter with live animals from the Museum’s living exhibit, 4:15 p.m. For more information, call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org.
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) read 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.
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
