Before the massive, colorful display of Caribbean costumes moves down Eastern Parkway during the West Indian American Day Carnival parade on September 5, the event’s grand marshals – representing culture, education and a salute to U.S. troops – will make their way along the parade route.
The 2011 parade grand marshals are Governor Andrew Cuomo; Army National Guard Brigadier General Renwick Payne; Winston Peters (aka calypsonian Gypsy), minister of Arts and Multiculturalism for Trinidad and Tobago; Matthew Goldstein, president of City University of New York; Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers and Georgina Ngozi, president and CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum.
Michael Blake, national deputy director of Project Vote – Obama For America, is a special guest and Mayor Michael Bloomberg is an honorary grand marshal for the parade, which has become a must-attend event for politicians and VIPs throughout the city and state.
Belize PM fetes 30th anniversary
Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow is due in Queens next month for a gala celebration honoring that country’s 30th anniversary of independence on September 23.
The affair, presented by the New York Belizeans Working Together for Progress, will be held from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Antun’s, 96-43 Springfield Boulevard in Queens Village. Tickets are $85. For tickets and information, call Melanie Martinez, secretary of New York Belizeans Working Together for Progress, at 718-219-3055.
Hot 97’s Labor Day concert
Labor Day weekend in New York, the biggest Caribbean weekend of the year, is getting a massive concert for the occasion – Hot 97-FM’s “On Da Reggae Tip 2011” on September 2 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan.
Billed as the Biggest and Best Reggae and Dancehall show in New York City!, the lineup for the star-studded show includes Mavado, Stephen Marley, Mr. Vegas, Barrington Levy, Gyptian, Elephant Man, Demarco Stephen and Chino McGregor, Ding Dong and other performers.
Popular Hot 97 deejays Bobby Konders and Jabba will host the show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, visit ticketmaster.com and hot97.com.
Calypso and Soca’s greats at Everybody’s ‘Tent-Revue’
The Everybody’s Calypso and Soca Tent-Revue, one of the biggest lineups of Caribbean performers in the world, begins Sunday, August 28 and runs nightly through September 2 in Brooklyn at Tropical Paradise Ballroom, 1367 Utica Avenue, (between Foster and Farragut Avenues).
Calypso King Mighty Sparrow, Becket, Denyse Plummer and Rikki Jai are among the 30 artists scheduled to take the stage. The six nights of music are truly international affair, with performers hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Vincent, Antigua, Dominica and Barbados, according to Everybody’s magazine publisher Herman Hall, the show’s producer.
The Calypso and Soca Tent-Revue schedule features:
• The August 28 opening, at 6 p.m., includes a VIP reception and a salute to Grenada calypsonians. The show features Sugar Aloes, Fat Man George, Val Adams and Becket.
• The August 29 show, at 7:30 p.m., features Ladies Night; a two-for-one ticket special; and performances by former National Calypso Monarchs Denyse Plummer and Singing Sandra; Tasha P, 2011 Calypso Queen of Dominica; Sexy Suzy, Lady Mac and Susan Kennedy.
• The Clash of the Islands, a performance by artists representing various Caribbean islands, which takes place on August 30. Headliners include Sugar Aloes, Brown Boy, King Swallow, Becket and Edwin Yearwood. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
• A celebration of Trinidad and Tobago’s 49th anniversary of independence, on August 31, which features a special show starring calypsonian Shadow, a Road March veteran, International Soca Monarch, National Calypso Monarch of Trinidad and Tobago and former UN spokesperson on AIDS prevention. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
• The September 1, Barbados Salute and Chutney Night featuring Indo-Caribbean stars six-time Chutney Soca Monarch Rikki Jai and Barbados Road March and Soca Monarch Edwin Yearwood. Show time is 7:30 p.m.
• The Carnival Friday Nite-Labor Day Weekend and the “The Masters of Calypso” show starring Shadow, Denyse Plummer, Lord Nelson, King Swallow, Becket and others, which starts at 8 p.m. on September 2.
Tickets range from $30 to $50 and are available online at www.everybodysmag.com and are available at outlets throughout the city.
There’s a special offer for the August 29 and August 31 – two persons will be admitted on one ticket!
For information and ticket outlet locations, contact Everybody’s Magazine at 718- 941-1879 and visit www.everybodysmag.com.
‘Green’ stationary company helps Japan’s recovery
As a devoted maker of environmentally friendly social stationery and other products for years, it’s only natural that the Maizuru company make a concerted effort to help people in Japan in the wake of the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis.
The New York-based firm will be focusing on the children of Japan by donating all net proceeds from contributions and donations for its limited edition Chrysanthemum in Pink card line to initiatives aiding the children of Japan, said Jamaican-American Paulette O’Gilvie, the company’s founder.
Maizuru is an eco-luxury stationery company that adheres to environmentally friendly practices, using recycled Paper, vegetable inks and organic compounds. And Maizuru products are even printed by wind power.
Last year, Maizuru became a winner of the British Airways 2010 Face-of-Opportunity competition for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
For more on the Japan initiative, contact Maizuru at www.maizuruonline.com or call 888-MAI-ZURU (624-9878).
Queens event salutes Jamaica hero Marcus Garvey
A mix of culture and fun is on tap for the Marcus Garvey Annual Family Day event next Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Queens at the old Springfield Gardens High School building, 143-10 Springfield Boulevard.
It’s a day full of music, a soccer tournament and children’s activities in honor of Garvey, a Jamaican national hero.
Performers include Johnny Osbourne, Mr. Easy, Shango Tex, Cherry Rock, Willow Wilson, Singing RN, Keisha Martin, Scepta and Eric Smith.
The event is presented by RTN Production and Rosedale Rockets Soccer. For information, call 347-528-4479.
