If you are looking for the music, the magic and the nitty-gritty of Caribbean carnival, you are looking for the J’Ouvert Parade, the increasingly popular pre-dawn procession of steel bands and costumes that takes place early Labor Day morning.
As a preview to this year’s parade, there will be a ceremony to celebrate the J’Ouvert tradition and awards presented to winners of last year’s event competitions on Wednesday at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 208 Joralemon Street.
Presented by J’Ouvert City International, the annual celebration of satirical costumes, steel drums and other non-amplified music begins at 2 a.m. on Labor Day and ends just before the big West Indian-American Day Carnival Parade kicks off.
This year, at least 18 steel orchestras and 14 masquerade bands will be part of the procession, which steps off from Grand Army Plaza at Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway.
J’Ouvert City International holds competitions for steel bands and mas bands in a number of categories. For information on the awards event or the J’Ouvert Parade, call president Danville Williamson at 347-605-3159, vice president Yvette Rennie at 718-636-8029 or secretary Hazel John at 347-601-0859.
Writers feted at Minton’s
Distinguished Caribbean novelist Rosa Guy and the Harlem Writers Guild - the oldest African-American writers group in America - were honored at the 350th Harlem anniversary celebration, presented by the Harlem Preservation Foundation and the Neighborhood Artists organization.
Guy, a Harlem Writers Guild co-founder, who was born in Trinidad and immigrated to Harlem with her parents, received special recognition at the event held at the famed Minton’s Playhouse on West 118th Street.
The Harlem Preservation Foundation and Neighborhood Artists are in the midst of celebrating a Harlem anniversary that goes back about 350 years.
Through a number of special events, the organizations are commemorating the beginnings of modern-day Harlem, which started as the Dutch village of New Haarlem in 1658 and was built with the labor of enslaved and partly freed African workers, according to Eric Tait Jr. of the foundation.
“Over those 350 years, Harlem has evolved into the mecca of the African diaspora, and despite many ups and downs, it is still going strong,” Tait wrote in an article about the celebration.
The Harlem anniversary celebration events continue throughout the year and include a film festival in tribute to the late filmmaker St. Claire Bourne on October 11 through October13. For information, call 212-281-2456 or visit www.myspace.com/harlemthennowandforever.
Treat yourself to Carib treats
The first annual Food, Cake, Arts and Craft Festival is coming to Brooklyn on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 featuring samplings of Caribbean culinary treats.
Presented by One Caribbean Radio WSNR (620 AM), the event will be held in St. Andrew’s Park, Kingston and Atlantic Avenues, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. both days. Under the theme, “The Essence of the Caribbean … A Cultural Fusion,” there will be a food competition showcasing a myriad of regional delicacies and pastries.
There will also be many types of Caribbean music, fashion and a hair show, plus arts and crafts displays. Representatives of Caribbean tourist boards will be on hand to share information about their respective nations.
Models in swimwear, designer eyeglasses, and in their country’s national dress, promises a tantalizing show. For vendor opportunities and general information, call One Caribbean Radio at 718-622-1081 or visit www.onecaribbeanradio.com.
Master plan for Anguilla
With input from residents and government officials, Anguilla is undertaking the tourism sector development project - a recently-launched initiative to chart the 20-year growth of tourism on the British dependency.
Under the Tourism Master Plan, which will be guiding the development of the industry from 2010 to 2020, Anguillians will be polled to learn their attitudes about tourism and tourists. Jasmin Garraway, a tourism planning and development specialist, is the project coordinator.
“This will ensure that the views of a wide cross section of the population will be considered,” said Victor Banks, the island’s minister of tourism, referring to the project’s initial goal of involving residents and business owners in tourism. “The input will serve to enhance our tourism industry so that it meets the aspirations of the people of Anguilla, simultaneously improving the quality of our tourism product for ourselves and to be shared freely with the visitor,” he said.
For information about Anguilla, visit the Anguilla Tourist Board’s web site - www.anguilla-vacation.com - or call 877-4-ANGUILLA toll free.
Great family day on tap
There are loads of opportunities available for sponsors, vendors, performers and volunteers to take part in this year’s Brooklyn Caribbean Youth Fest, the anticipated family event, which returns to Prospect Park’s Nethermead section on September 13 featuring music, food, dance, poetry and much more.
Last year, nearly 4,000 persons attended the event, which was started in 2005 by Maxine Hamilton-Alexander and the Hamptonians New York organization.
For information about the event or to learn vendor opportunities, call 718-927-6817 or send an e-mail to maxineee@aol.com. Prospective performers, should call 718-602-0106. Persons interested in volunteering, can send e-mails to coralreefcarib@hotmail.com.
This column is reprinted from the August 10 Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have any items suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
