Thursday, Dec. 9

Home Buying Seminar

Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush is sponsoring a home buying seminar covering closing cost assistance, mortage affordability, grants, & more, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Citibank, 702 Utica Ave., between Lenox Rd. & Clarkson Ave. To reserve space, call (718) 469-4679.

Concert & Tree Lighting

Community Board 17 Parks Committee, NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation & Public School 198 will hold its Annual Concert & Lighting Ceremony, featuring a visit by Santa Claus & including caroling & refreshments & DJ Madd Fire, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at Paerdegat Park, Albany & Foster avenues, Brooklyn. For information, call (718) 467-3536.

Holiday Party

The Greater N.Y. Chamber of Commerce & New Democratic Dimensions invite you to their Holiday Party with special award presentations to Governor & First Lady David & Michelle Paterson & also recognizing Health Corps & including food, drink & music. $20/members; $35 guests. Must RSVP to (212) 686-7220 or register online at www.ny-chamber.com.

Saturday, Dec. 11

Jazz

Jazz Band Classic presents The Joy of the Blues featuring the music of Glenn Miller, Count Basie & Mercer Ellington & featuring soloist Steve Wilson on saxophone, 7:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th St., N.Y. Tickets: $15 & are available by calling (212) 581-5933.

Music

Littlefield, 622 Degraw, Brooklyn, is hosting “Is America Part Of The World III” featuring Nation Beat, Brooklyn Qawwali Party, Tall Tall Trees & DJ Turmix including jazz, folk, rock & funky soul, 8:00 p.m. $10/advance at www.ticketfly.com; $13/door. Must be 21+. For information, call (718) 855-3388.

Brooklyn Literature

St. Francis College, 180 Remsen St., Brooklyn Heights, presents Brooklyn in Literature, 1855-2010: Five Readings From Past & Present, featuring the work of four authors & a publisher introducing their own work as well as reflecting on the Brooklyn literature of Walt Whitman, N.P. Lovecraft & others, 6:30 p.m. Free & open to the public. For information, visit www.stfranciscollege.edu.

Scholarship Brunch

The Carlton Locksley Bennett Foundation presents its second annual Scholarship Fundrasing Brunch, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Catherine McAuley High School, 1377 Brooklyn Ave., between Newkirk & Foster avenues, Brooklyn. Tickets: $20. For information, call (347) 787-5493.

Membership Drive

The Haiti Culture Exchange is hosting its first Fundraising Membership Drive, featuring special guest performances by Buyu Ambroise, Dominique Joseph, & more, 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. at Deity, 368 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn. Appetizers will be served from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.; Cash Bar open all night. To see all membership package levels visit www.haiticulturalx.org/goal; RSVP to regine@haiticulturalx.org.

Holiday Concert

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College presents We Wish You A Merry Christmas, a holiday concert by the Grammy winning Christian vocal jazz group Take 6 featuring a blend of jazz, gospel, R&B & vintage doo-wop, 8:00 p.m. at Walt Whitman Theatre, 2900 Campus Road. For ticket orders online, visit BrooklynCenterOnline.org; Box Office (718) 951-4500.

Holiday Crafts Fair

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West at 2 St., Park Slope, is having their Annual Holiday Crafts Fair featuring an amazing group of vendors as well as standard & vegetarian cuisine, decadent desserts & beverages. Prizes & Drawings. For information, call (718) 768-2972.

Sunday, Dec. 12

The Nutcracker

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College presents its Target FamilyFun Series offering The Colonial Nutcracker featuring a red coated mouse army, an enchanted nutcracker prince & compelling narration of this timeless story, 2:00 p.m., Walt Whitman Theatre, 2900 Campus Road. For ticket orders online, visit BrooklynCenterOnline.org; Box Office (718) 951-4500.

Holiday Magic

Dance Theatre of Harlem presents its holiday themed Sunday Matinee featuring performances by students from the Manhattan School of Music & the Dance Theatre of Harlem Professional Training Program performing excerpts from “The Nutcracker,” 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Everett Center for the Performing Arts, 466 West 152nd St., between Amsterdam & St. Nicholas avenues, N.Y. Program will be followed by a artist reception & refreshments. Tickets: $18/adults; $14/seniors & children under 12. For information, call (212) 690-2800.

Farmers Market

Pick the freshest seasonal foods for holiday entertaining directly from more than 30 farmers & food producers offering farm fresh produce, cheeses & dairy products, meats & baked goods & wines at the Westchester County Center, 198 Central Park Ave., in White Plains, N.Y. Additional dates are Sundays, 1/2, 2/13, & 3/20, 2011. Admission: free; Parking in lot: $4. For information, call (914) 995-4050.

Monday, Dec. 13

Relationship Seminar

The Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center’s Women’s Support Group, 107 West Fourth St., Lower Level Lounge, presents an adult relationship seminar focusing on choosing a partner, recognizing abusive behavior, commitment issues, dating in the digital age & more, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to Ms. Gibbs-Bryant to reserve seating for yourself or your group at (914) 699-7200 ext. 567.

Tuesday, Dec. 14

Business Workshop

CAMBA Small Business Services, 884 Flatbush Ave., 2nd Fl., corner Church Ave., Brookly, is offering a free workshop Developing the Business Plan - Secrets & Strategies, an interactive workshop focusing on the foundations of writing an effective business plan, available resources & strategies, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration required; call (718) 282-2500 or email smallbiz@camba.org.

Dance Concert

The Harlem Praises! Dance Project presents its “Dance Project Concert” featuring performances by project participants, church Praise Dance Ministries & performing artists from Harlem, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Minisink Townhouse, 646 Malcolm X Blvd. at 142 St., Harlem. Tickets: $10 & sold at the door at the night of the concert. Doors open 5:00 p.m. For information, call Shabazz Communications, (646) 410-0246.

ONGOING

Toy/Gift Card Drive

Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens launch the 2010 Christmas Toy Drive for children & families in need requesting new, unwrapped gifts, gift cards & cash donations. Unwrapped gifts can be brought to 191 Joralemon St., Brooklyn Heights, 23-40 Astoria Blvd., Astoria & 90-39 189th St., Hollis, Queens. Gift cards & cash are accepted at the above locations or you can make checks payable to Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens, & mail to Catholic Charities Toy Drive, Office of Development & Communications, 191 Joralemon St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201. For more information, call (718) 722-6204.

Police Athletic League

PAL provides boys & girls with recreational, educational, cultural & social programs & is asking for tax deductible donations of books, art materials or sports equipment or giving the gift of time by volunteering. Donations may be sent to PAL, 34 1/2 East 12 St., N.Y. 10003 or by logging on to www.palnyc.org & clicking on “Donate to PAL under the About Us tab. To become a volunteer click on Get Involved under the same tab for an application. For more information, contact Mr. Sumpter-Delves at (212) 477-9450 ext. 390.

Donations for Seniors

The Carter Burden Center for the Aging is asking for donations for its senior citizens in the way of craft supplies, especially yarn & knitting supplies, unopened holiday gifts for men & women such as sweaters, socks, hats, gloves & scarves, large print edition books, etc. as well as volunteers to assist with filing, telephone coverage & delivering meals to the homebound. Donations can be sent to the center at 1484 First Ave., N.Y. 10075. For information, visit www.burdencenter.org or call (212) 879-7400 ext. 204.

Holiday Fair

The annual Grand Central Holiday Fair, featuring vendors of one-of-a-kind jewelry, handmade women’s & children’s clothing, holiday ornaments, home accessories, glass sculptures, hand loomed knitware, art & books, imported African crafts, toys & more, will be open thru 12/24, 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Monday thru Saturday at Vanderbilt Hall & Bridge, Grand Central Terminal, Lexington Ave., at 42 St. For information, call (212) 340-2345.

Compiled by

Ida Eisenstein

©2010 Community Newspaper Group