Nobel Prize-winning St. Lucian poet Derek Walcott and Haitian author Edwidge Danticat will be a part of the 92nd Street Y Unterberg Poetry Center’s 2007 season and will make appearances in the series this month.
Walcott, the author of more than 20 collections of poetry and dozens of plays, will read from his rich body of poems on September 17 at 8 p.m.
On September 20 at 8 p.m., Danticat, author of The Dew Breaker and Krik? Krak!, will read from her touching memoir Brother, I’m Dying, a tale of immigration from Haiti to the U.S.
Also reading that evening will be South African novelist, poet and playwright Zakes Mda, whose works include the play “We Shall Sing for the Fatherland” and the novels The Whale Caller and Cion.
The readings will be held at the 92nd Street Y on Lexington Avenue. Tickets are $18 and a limited number of $10 tickets are available for people under 35 years of age. For tickets and information, call 212- 415-5500 or visit 92Y.org/poetry.
Meet the primary candidates
Before this month’s primary election, the East Flatbush Coalition Political Awareness Committee wants Brooklyn voters to “bring your questions and concerns” to the Primary Election Judicial Candidate’s Forum.
The forum organizers want voters to meet the candidates and get information on their respective platforms at the session, which will be held Friday, September 14 at St.Paul’s United Methodist Church, 3714 Avenue D (entrance on 38th Street) starting at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
For information, call (718) 451-0276.
Freeing of journalist hailed
The New York-based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy – which has long labored, lobbied and campaigned to have Guyana TV journalist Mark Benschop freed from prison in the South American nation — last week heartily welcomed his unconditional release.
Benschop, held without a trial for five years, was charged with treason for allegedly encouraging a July 2002 demonstration at Guyana’s presidential palace. If convicted, he could have received a death sentence.
Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo granted Benschop a full pardon and announced his release. He was freed August 27. The pardon comes after the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy, in its continued battle to free Benschop, filed a petition on the prisoner’s behalf with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Skatalites at SOB’s
The new Reggae Cabaret series continues on Wednesday, September 12 at SOB’s, 204 Varick St., in Manhattan with a rare performance by the Skatalites, who are touting a new album, “On the Right Track.” Opening act for the evening will be the Scorchers band.
After forming in 1964, the pioneering Skatalites band recorded their first album and went on tour, spreading a unique meld of blues, R&B, jazz, Jamaican mento folk music, calypso and African sounds.
Today, the 2007 version of Skatalites boasts three original band members: signature vocalist Doreen Schaeffer, drummer Lloyd Knibbs and saxophonist Lester Sterling.
Doors will open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door. Special Reggae Cabaret VIP tickets include a complimentary appetizer, a drink and an opportunity to meet and greet the Skatalites after the show. For tickets, call 212-243-4940 or TSO Productions at 718-421-6927. Send e-mail to cabaret@tsoproductions.com and visit sobs.com.
Art show on Flatbush
The art exhibit “Forgive? —Contemplating the Notion of Forgiveness Through Depictions of Ideas, Moments and Faith” opened at The Gallery at Harriet’s Alter Ego.
Curated by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn, the show will be on display through October 12 at Harriet’s Alter Ego, 293 Flatbush Avenue (between St. Marks Place and Prospect Place). Delphine Fawundu-Buford, Danny Simmons, Frances Fawundu and Barron Claiborne are among the participating artists.
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Sunday, from noon to 7 p.m. Call 718-783-2074 and visit www.harrietsalteregoonline.com.
Duo dominates in dominoes
Congratulations to Arnett Ramsey and Rohan Lynch, the winners of the 2007 World Domino Champions held last week in Queens at the Ramada Plaza Hotel at JFK.
The Jamaican pair, who won the competition’s Chivas Regal Challenge trophy, also won an $8,500 grand prize. Last year’s champions Dwayne (Sniper) Henry and Leroy (Piggy) James were among the competitors with more than 100 players in the contest, presented by World Domino Promotions.
‘Jamaica Farewell’
Say welcome back to “Jamaica Farewell,” Jamaican playwright and actress Debra Ehrhardt’s one-woman show which is back for a limited run at the SoHo Playhouse, 15 Van Dam Street (between Sixth Avenue and Varick Street) in Manhattan.
This engagement follows the play’s debut run at the New York International Fringe Festival last month. The play, which follows Ehrhardt’s true-life quest to travel to the U.S. from Jamaica in the volatile 1970s, can be seen Monday through Wednesday, and Friday through Sunday.
For show times and tickets, call 212-691-1555 and visit www.sohoplayhouse.com
