Sun Kulcha

Thursday, Dec. 23

W.O.R.D. Up!

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., presents W.O.R.D. Up! Words of Real Distinction reading series featuring author George William Kelly & his new children’s picture book, Santa Christina & Her Sled Dogs, 2:00 p.m.

The book introduces the wife of Santa Claus, Santa Christina as she shares cheerful tales of her adventures as a female musher, her participation in the delivery of Christmas toys from the North Pole, a trip to N.Y. where she visits Central Park & the statue of Balto the sled dog hero, a Siberian Husky who, in 1925, led his team through a blizzard to deliver serum to combat the outbreak of diphtheria to the people of Nome, Alaska & her fashion indepence as she wears a green Alaskan Inuit-style tunic dress. For information on the Brooklyn Children’s Musuem & ongoing events, call (718) 735-4400.

Comedy

Actress/comic Sunda Croonquist, born of an African-American mother & Swedish father, the Nation’s Funniest Daughter-In-Law, returns home to serve her hilarious “Kosher Soul Food” at Stand Up New York, 236 W 78 St., between Amsterdam Ave. & Broadway, Friday & Saturday, 12/24 & 25, 8:00 p.m. Admission: $20 w/2 items minimum. For reservations & information, call (212) 595-0850 or visit www.standupny.com.

Street Music Promotions & Family Entertainment presents the reunion of South System Total Recall Dub Plate Style, featuring Afrique, King Addies, LP Int’l., Spectrum Disco & more, & hosted by DJ Noah & Boogie G., at C-PAC Night Club, 1020 East 48 St. & Farragut Rd., Brooklyn. Doors open: 10:00 p.m.; Ladies free B4 1:00 a.m.; Admission $15 B4 1:00 a.m.; more after. For tickets, visit www.Tix4me.com or call (718) 282-8041.

Celebrate the Holidays

Team Jamaica Bickle presents its Second Annual Holiday Fest on Christmas Day with music by DJ Patrick, 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. at The Dream Restarunt (formerly Clippers II), 234-36 Merrick Blvd., Laurelton, Queens, N.Y. For reservations, email teamjamaicabickle@gmail.com or call (718) 523-2861.

Sunday, Dec. 26

Sunday Platforms

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, 53 Prospect Park West at 2 St. in Park Slope, Brooklyn, presents Colloquy: Reflections on 2010, Personally, Socially & Globally with Lisel Burns offering an opportunity for group reflection, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the main hall of the Meeting House. Free & open to the public. For information, call (718) 768-2972 or visit www.bsec.org.

Basketball

Westchester County Parks, 198 Central Park Ave. in White Plains, presents The 12th Annual Slam Dunk High School Basketball Tournament, Sunday – Wednesday, 12/26-29, featuring top-ranked boys & girls from local & N.Y.S basketball teams facing off to showcase their talent in a competitive four-day tournament, beginning at noon each day with halftime games by young future youth teams. Admission: $5/day; Tickets in advance at the County Center box office & before each game. Parking: $4/car. For information, call (9145) 995-4050 or visit www.countycenter.biz.

Monday, Dec. 27

Kwanzaa Celebration

NAKO presents the 44th Anniversary Kwanzaa Celebration with its creator, Dr. Maulana Karenga, featuring the topic: Kwanzaa & the Nguzo Saba: An Ethics of Sharing Good in the World, & including cultural entertainment provided by the Universal African Dancer & Drum Ensemble as well as vocalists Camille Yarbrough & Zahmu, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. at Boys & Girls High School 1700 Fulton St., between Utica & Schnectady avenues., Brooklyn. Admission: $10/adults; $7/children & seniors. For information, call (718) 789-3264. Interested vendors call (718) 479-4186.

Tuesday, Dec. 28

The Nutcracker

Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, N.Y. presents The Nutcracker performed by N.Y.C.’s Ballet for Young Audiences telling the ageless tale of Clara, the mysterious clockmaker & the Nutcracker Prince, Tuesday-Thursday, 12/28-30, 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. Tickets: $12. Reservations available at www.queenstheatre.org or by phone at (718) 760-0064.

Wednesday, Dec. 29

Kwanza Event

The Coalition to Preserve Reggae Music (CPR) will hold its Kwanzaa & Community Appreciaton Event celebrating Ujamaa, cooperative economics, 7:00 p.m. – midnight at 310 Lounge, 310 Bowery at First St. just north of Houston St. in lower Manhattan. Event is free & open to all. Everyone is asked to RSVP at info@cprreggae.org or call (718) 421-6927 & to share the fruit of their harvest by making a donation of educational supplies (pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, markets, etc.) to be given to school children in Jamaica.

ONGOING

Police Athletic League

Registration is ongoing thru Jan. 10, 2011, for the PAL Cops & Kids Program open in Manhattan for young people ages 14 to 17 to participate in the upcoming winter basketball season. To sign up or for more information, contact PAL;s Operations Dept. at (212) 477-9450 ext. 389.

Jazz Academy

Jazz at Lincoln Center will be accepting applications for its Middle School Jazz Academy Class of 2011-12 beginning Jan. 22, 2011. Promising middle school instrumentalists from N.Y.C. are eligible to apply & audition for the tuition-free intensive jazz instruction program held throughout the school year. For eligibility requirements & for an application visit jalc.org/msja. Application deadline is March 4, 2011. The free showcase will take place Jan. 22, 2011 at l:00 p.m. in Irene Diamond Education Center, Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, on Broadway at 60th St., N.Y.C. The showcase is free & open to the public. No reservations, first come, first served. Seating is general admission. For more information, contact Bridget Wilson, (212) 258-9868 or email bwilson@jalc.org.

Talent Quest

The Green Space Battle of the Boroughs Talent Quest 2011 is looking for the best undiscovered performers – bands & ensembles of all genres, instrumentalists, vocalists, DJs & spoken word artists – to take part in its second annual celebration of New York City’s up-and-comers. Selected talent will perform in The Greene Space. Winner of the final battle gets a featured concert plus an opening act slot at SummerStage. Enter before Dec. 31. For rules & more information go to thegreenspace.org/battle.

You Gotta Believe

You Gotta Believe! adoption agency offers free classes to learn more about adopting an older child. Learn how you can help an older child find a permanent home. Classes are held every Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. in Coney Island at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2801 W 8 St., & every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. in East New York at Church of the Holy Redeemer, 2414 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn. For more information, call (718) 372-3003.

Foreclosure Prevention

If you’re behind, or just concerned about your mortgage, come in for free services & assistance to the Open House every Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. sponsored by Flatbush Development Corp, Neighborhood Housing Services of East Flatbush & the Center for York City Neighborhoods. To RSVP or for more information, call (718) 469-4679 or visit www.nhsnyc.org.

Home Repairs

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 can assist you. For more information on the Home Improvement Programs call (718) 469-4679 or visit www.nhsofeastflatbush.org.

Winter Aches & Pains

Try this complete alternative medicine cabinet in a bottle for free. Jamaican Bath Fountain Pimento Oil is an all natural, chemical & preservative free herbal medication that relieves stiff joints, sore muscles, nerve damage amongst a host of other ailments. We will come to your nursing home or church and give you a free massage so you can experience this Jamaican phenomenon for yourself. Call Sandra at (866) 223-2414 or visit www.fountainoil.com for more information.

Comedy

Comedy School Dropout, the free, stand up comedy show hosted by Joe Rocha & produced by fellow comic Joe Dixon continues its show with drink specials on Monday evenings, 8:00 p.m., at the unique lodge lounge setting of Retreat, 37 West 17 St., between 5 & 6 avenues in Manhattan (Subway: “F” train to 14th St.) For informnation, contact (212)488-6600 or visit http://www.retreat-nyc.com.

Compiled by Ida Eisenstein