There is surely some magic in the creation of the annual New York Caribbean Carnival and Parade, but the festive affair doesn’t appear from thin air — and the Friday’s “Catch Di Vibe Carnival Cultural Bus Tour” in Brooklyn will show its patrons the process of making the big event’s magic and merriment.
Tour participants will visit mas camps where the spectacular and intricate costumes are made and sold, pan yards which are headquarters and for practice spaces for the harmonious steel pan ensembles and calypso tents which host vibrant live music performances.
The trip’s cost includes a pre-tour Caribbean buffet, complimentary beverages and gift bags.
West Indian American Day Carnival Association is asking the public to, “Visit festive mas’ camps and get a behind the scenes view of Caribbean costume artistry at its best.”
Leaving from WIADCA Brooklyn headquarters (325 Rogers Ave.) at 7:30 p.m., escorted tour offers a first-hand look behind the creation of the colorful, costumed-packed the carnival and parade. The tour — which ends at midnight — is a great way to preview this festive season in the city.
The bus trip precedes the five-days of 2019 carnival events begin on Aug. 29 and run through Sept. 2 carnival parade along Brooklyn’s Eastern Parkway.
The grounds of the Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Parkway (carnival events entrance on Washington Ave. near President St.), the “Afrobeats, Reggae and Soca” concert opens the pre-parade happenings on Aug. 29 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. It’s the first of several show featuring a select groups of music Caribbean performers.
The “Brassfest” soca music concert follows on Aug. 30. from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.
During the daytime hours in Aug. 31, the youth-powered “Junior Carnival Parade” of costumed kids and teens parading from Kingston Ave. and St. John’s Place in Crown Heights at 9 a.m. to Brooklyn Museum grounds.
The 2019 Panorama steel orchestra competition, from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., closes the day.
On Sept 1., “Sunday Night Mas – Dimanche Gras: An All White Affair” takes place from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., — featuring costume presentations, the 2019 Panorama winners, and other performances.
On Labor Day, Sept 2., the public is invited to the New York Caribbean Carnival Parade of masqueraders and music along Eastern Parkway — which will be flanked by blocks of vendors selling Caribbean cuisine and beverages, clothing and other goods.
For an admission fee, the public can attend the “VIP Breakfast” — for grand marshals, special guests and sponsors — in Lincoln Terrace Park, at Buffalo and East New York Aves., taking place just hours before the parade starts.
For information and online ticket purchases, visit wiadcacarnival.org or call (718) 467-1797.
Chamber honors ‘Carnival’
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For the West Indian American Day Carnival Association’s contributions to New York City’s history, culture and its coffers, the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry is honoring organization at its Monthly Business Networking Power Breakfast Membership Meeting on Friday .
“A Special Tribute to WIADCA and it’s Contribution to NYC” is the theme of the agenda item at the breakfast, according CACCI founder and President Roy Hastick, Sr.
The carnival association organizes the annual New York Caribbean Carnival in Brooklyn.
In addition to honoring WIADCA, and former Congressman Ed Towns is a scheduled guest and there will be discussion on business and real estate opportuities in the city and the Caribbean, and other topics.
Co-sponsored by the city’s Department of Small Business Services, the breakfast will be held at CACCI’s Brooklyn Navy Yard headquarters (enter at 63 Flushing Ave.), in New Building 77, in the eighth floor executive conference room, 9 a.m.
Call CACCI at (718) 834-4544 or visit caribbeantradecenter.com for information.
An award-winning film
“Not As Tough As You Think” — the teen-focused film about what happens “when peer pressure turns deadly” — won the award for “Best Dramatic Short Story” at the Art Is Alive Film Festival recently, according to Jamaica-born Ian Wilson of Transformation Techniques, who wrote and produced the film.
The film — about the choices made by teenagers attempting to crash a child’s birthday party — had its world premiere on July 17 at the Long Island International Film Expo.
“Not As Tough As You Think” was directed by Ade Richardson and Sung Rae Cho was cinematographer.
Wilson’s Transformation Techniques company creates “educational DVD content to develop character and social values.” He attained a biology degre and worked in pharmaceutical and radio sales before undertaking his educational film venture.
His films examine youth-related topics such as respect for women, sexual responsibility, and gun violence.
Visit transformation-techniques.com; send email to Ian.wilson315@gmail.com or call (718) 614-5211 for more about the educational productions from Transformation Techniques.
Author touts ‘Patsy’
Author Nicole Dennis-Benn will discuss her book “Patsy” on a reading and conversation on Aug. 28 in Brooklyn at the Flatbush -Caton Market, 2184 Clarendon Road, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“Patsy” tells the moving story of “a Jamaican woman who leaves her daughter behind for a new life in America.”
The conversation with Dennis-Benn will be held with community leader Sharon Gordon.
The Brooklyn reading is part of a “Patsy” book tour that is taking Dennis-Benn across America and as far away as Nigeria and South Africa.
For information, visit nicoledennisbenn.com
Fancy Caribbean meals
Manhattan’s James Beard Foundation is going international by hosting a “Caribbean Traditions” dinner on Wednesday and a “Best of the Bahamas” dinner on Sept. 20.
The dinner features “Caribbean Cheese Canapés with Sorrel-Roasted Tomato Jam” and other hors d’oeuvres to dinner dishes such as “Bajan-Style Chicken Roll with Papaya–Christophine Salad and Pickled Papaya–Pepper Sauce,” and a “Coconut Sweet Bread–Crusted Cheesecake with Tonka Bean Caramel Sauce, Ponche-de-Creme Shot, and Cinnamon Foam” dessert.
Participating chefs include Nneka Nurse of Best Dressed Plate in New Jersey; Renee Blackman and Samuel Branch of New York and Barbados; Leeonney Bentick of Maryland and St. Vincent; Osei Blackett of Brooklyn’s Picky Eaters Restaurant and Trinidad;” and Anslem Allette of Trinidad and Tobago.
Both dinners will be held at Beard House, 167 W. 12th St., at 7 p.m. Public price $180 per person and $140 for members.
Alcoholic beverages are provided “on a complimentary basis and are not included in the ticket price,” according to organizers.
Visit www.jamesbeard.org and under “Events” select “Dinner at Beard House” for tickets and information.
Student aid for USVI
The numbers from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands are great — more than $205,000 in 2019-2020 academic scholarship awards and grants were given to undergraduate and graduate students.
“At CFVI, we are committed to continuing our efforts to increase the level of support available for talented and dedicated Virgin Islands students,” said Marie Thomas Griffith, CFVI’s Scholarship Committee chair.
With strong support from the CFVI donors, the recipients will be attending the University of the Virgin Islands and U.S. insitutions, including the Berklee College of Music, Howard University, Boston University, Temple University and Florida State University.
Scholarships and grant awards amounts ranged from $500 to $5,000. Heavy Materials of Charlotte Amalie, USVI, provided the single largest donation for the CFVI educational assistance effort — $57,500 which provided scholarships for 23 students.
A British bishop’s visit
It’s been quite ride for Jamaica-born Rose Hudson-Wilkin who is the Church of England’s first black female bishop.
Hudson-Wilkin — who visited the historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania on Aug. 11 — is also the chaplain to the Speaker of Britain’s House of Commons and chaplain to the Queen.
Appropriately, the bishop’s visit came on Mother Bethel’s International Sunday, an event already planned by committee members at the church, under Senior Pastor Mark Kelly Tyler.
An independent and unrelated inquiry about a possible visit and sermon from Hudson-Wilkin produced the visit with the help from Oliver St. Clair Franklin, honorary consul of the British Consulate.
