Sun Kulcha

Thursday, Dec. 16

Holiday Open House

NYS Senate President Pro Tempore Malcom A. Smith is holding a holiday open house, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at his District Office, 205-19 Linden Blvd., St. Albans, Queens. RSVP: (718) 528-4290.

Black Nutcracker

Uptown Dance Academy presents The 15th Annual Black Nutcracker Gala Benefit Fundraiser, 7:00 p.m. at The Apollo Theater, 253 West 125th St., N.Y. featuring Victoria Rowell as the host & guest performers from the American Ballet Theater. For tickets & information, call (212) 987-5030.

Business Workshop

CAMBA Economic Development Corp. is offering loans to Central Brooklyn-based entrepreneurs looking to start up or expand their existing business & offering resources to help you with bad or no credit, no business plan or no financial records, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at 884 Flatbush Ave., 2 Fl., Brooklyn. For information, call (718) 282-2500.

Christmas Spectacular

The Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles is having its first annual Christmas Spectacular, a fundraiser for the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, which has been serving meals every week day, including holidays, for 27 years. The event features a reading of W. H. Auden’s classic Christmas poem by Broadway actor Michael Cumpsty, jazz artist Eddie Allen & his band playing holiday favorites & a silent auction as part of the fundraising fun, 6:30 p.m. at 28th Street & 9th Ave., N.Y. Tickets: $20 & may be purchased on line at http://tinyurl.com/spectacular1 or at the door. For information, call Gary Morse at (214) 213) 8112.

Friday, Dec. 17

Party & Food Drive

Reco Jeans & Haven Bar are sponsoring a Holiday Party & Canned Food Drive for the Momentum Project, 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. at Haven, 244 East 51 St., between 2 & 3 avenues. Get ticket for free drink with a canned food donation. To RSVP, email [email protected].

Music

The Good Coffeehouse Music Parlor, 53 Prospect Park West at 2 St. in Park Slope, presents Dave Roche & Louis Rosen, singers & songwriters, 8:00 p.m. Doors open 7:30 p.m. $10/Door; $6/Children. For information, call (718) 768-2972 or visit www.bsec.org.

Appreciation Party

C-PAC & Jammins Entertainment are having a Customer & Community Appreciation X-Mas Party featuring a toy collection of slightly used or new toys for the annual “Give Back Toy Drive” & offering music, refreshments & entertainment. Doors Open 11:30 p.m.; Admission free for Santa & nice people at the C-PAC Night Club, 1020 East 48 St., Brooklyn. For information, visit www.givebacktoydrive.com.

Saturday, Dec. 18

Kwanzaa Celebration

MEC & The People of the Sun Middle Passage Collective present their annual Kwanzaa celebration featuring spoken word, song & dance with a special tribute to Queen Mama Dr. Mary Unmolu & featuring vendors providing an array of items for purchase, 5:00 p.m. at 1150 Carroll St. in the Gym. Prior to celebration The Collective will host a Feed the Needy & Homeless event at 1:00 p.m. in the Carroll St. Cafeteria. Food will be served & clothing & children’s gifts will be distributed. For information, contact Akeem at (718) 270-4902.

Gift Bazaar

The Hamilton Landmark Galleries, 4667 West 144 St., between Convent & Amsterdam avenues, N.Y. presents its Holiday Affordable Gift Bazaar, Saturday & Sunday, 12/18 & 19, featuring original prints, wearable art, handmade quilts, woven textiles, handmade dolls, jewelry, handmade leather bags & more, noon to 6:00 p.m. Admission: free. For information, call (212) 281-7667.

Holiday Market

The Hattie Carthan Community Market presents the Special Holiday Market featuring veggies, specialty foods, baked goods, including apple cider, local cheese, freshly baked pies, delicious chutney & affordable gifts & crafts & also featuring cooking demos & workshops, noon – 8:00 p.m. at the Market, Clifton Place at Marcy Ave. (next to the Community Garden), Brooklyn. For information, call (347) 399-1761.

Comedy

Bill’s Place, Harlem’s Speakeasy Jazz Club, 148 West 133 St., Ground Fl., N.Y., presents Jane Galvin Lewis, Comic Extraorinaire, 7:00 p.m. $10 donation; reservations advised; limited space; BYOBB. For information, call (212) 281-0777.

Gospel Choir Fest

The NAN Education Committee & Sum Very Peachy Music presents A Christmas Gospel Choir Fest, featuring The Late Show’s Gospel Choir, The Anointed Praise Choir of the Bronx, The NAN’s Change Choir, NAN’s Youth Choir, Lady Peachena & more, 5:00 p.m., Williams Institutional C.M.E. Church, 2225 Adam C. Powell Blvd., between 131 & 132 streets in Harlem. Everyone is asked to bring a book or an educational toy for needy children. Tickets: $10/advance; VIP (front seats)/$15; $20/door. For information, call (917) 916-7375.

Vodou Brooklyn

Five Myles Gallery, 558 St. Johns Place, Brooklyn, presents Vodou Brooklyn book signing, photo exhibit & vodou performance hosted by Stephanie Keith & Marie Carmel Moise, 7:00 p.m. – midnight. For information, call (718) 783-4438.

Sunday, Dec. 19

Pre-Kwanzaa Party

The Omo Obatala Egbe & AYA are hosting their annual Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration featuring face painting, games & storytelling for the children as well as a Karamu (feast) for all. We are calling for vendors & merchants to submit applications to participate in the African Market. Deadline for applications is Dec. 17. Admission is free to the community. For information, call (718) 510-7271.

Sunday Platform

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Cutlure, 53 Prospect Park West, 2 St., Park Slope, presents its Sunday Platform on Protecting New York’s Water with Jim Vogel focusing on Albany protecting N.Y.C.’s water from hydrofracking, the extraction of natural gas using dangerous chemicals, 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.

Tuesday, Dec. 21

Caregiver Training

Utopia Home Care is offering free caregiver training featuring ambulating, transfers, turning & positioning, skin & incontinent care, use of bedpan & urinal & use of a Hoyer Lift, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Babylon Office, 120 Deer Park Ave., (631) 587-8090 & the Westbury Office, 95 Post Ave., (516) 334-4807. Note: Purpose of training is to gain personal skills. No certificates will be given.

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Toy Giveaway

Neighborhood Health Providers presents the Annual Christmnas Toy Giveaway & Celebration featuring a free toy while supplies last & also offering help with applications for government free or low cost health insurance, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the NHP Community Office, 372 Mother Gaston Blvd., Brooklyn. For information on necessary forms for health applications, call (646) 287-9333.

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. agt (212) 477-9450 ext. 389.

Toy & Clothing Drive

The Society for the Advancement of the Caribbean Diaspora is holding a drive for toys and clothes for infant girls & boys and older children up to age 15 needed by Our Lady of Charity R.C. Church for the community outreach program supporting the children of former female prison inmates. Drop offs at the church at 1669 Dean St., between Utica & Schnectedy avenues, Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. until Dec. 20. For pickup, call (917) 403-6531 (24/7) or call Ms. Romain at (718) 774-5100.

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.

Compiled by

Ida Eisenstein