Well, my dear friends, we have ended another year together. I am celebrating 14 years with the AFRO and it has been a pure joy keeping you informed about the entertainment and social world news in our community and looking forward to 14 more years. We have had so much fun, haven’t we?
This week I have a little gospel, blues, jazz and playtime for you to check out if you haven’t already planned your New Year’s holidays. There are just so many ways you can enjoy this special holiday. Some of you prefer to go to your church to thank God for all the blessings he has given you this past year and to remember our family and friends we have lost. Others prefer to bring in the New Year with a bang, whistles, fireworks and music. Whatever you choose, please be safe and blessed.
We can start your New Year off by joining Lady Barbara Nicholson along with the Siloam Freewill Baptist Church, 501 N. Fulton Ave. as they celebrate the Rev. George Nicholson’s 17th pastoral anniversary, 11 a.m., Jan. 1 with guest preacher, the Rev. Gary Hall, from Good Shepherd Baptist Church and the Rev. Warren Preston, from New Birth Free Will Baptist Church. The celebration continues Jan. 7 and 8 with the voices of the Christianaires, the Freedom Missionary Baptist Church Male Chorus and the Siloam’s Choirs. For more information, call 410-367-2817.
The Harlem Globetrotters will at the 1st Mariner Arena, 2 p.m., Dec. 30. The rookies include Paul “Tiny” Sturgess, the world’s tallest pro basketball player at 7’8”, Jonte “Too Tall” Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5’2” and Fatima “TNT” Maddox, the team’s first female player since 1993 and ninth female in team history.
They also feature the top three finishers from the 2011 College Slam Dunk Contest, including the reigning champ Jacob “Hops” Tucker. At 5’10”, Tucker sports a 50 inch vertical leap! Go and enjoy.
Blues shows are fun too. The Electrofied fuses the various traditions of blues, gospel, R&B, jazz and rock. Their new CD, Bad Case of the Blues reached number 42 on the world wide blues radio airplay charts last year. Their live show will move and groove you. Catch them on New Year’s Eve at the Chef Mac’s on Harford Road.
Call for reservation at 410-319-6227.
Caton Castle on Caton Avenue will host a dynamite show, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Jan. 1 with a New Year’s Day brunch with lots of delicious food and entertainment by Harold Adams on sax, Bob Butta on piano, Amy Shook on bass, Robert Shahid on drums and, vocalist, George V. Johnson Jr. I think this is another nice way to start off the New Year.
Now for the bells and whistle! The Faisonian Club and the Brothers of Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity are hosting a New Year’s Eve Black Tie Affair, 10 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., at the Forum Caterers, 4210 Primrose Ave. with a full dinner buffet, top shelf open bar, champagne toast, noise maker, hats, dancing and music. For more information, call 443-801-1100.