Molly Austin
(Emerging NYC Comic)

Alex Barnett
(1st Place, 12th Annual Gilda’s Club Laugh Off;
CNN.com; Wall Street Journal; NY Daily News)

Mike Brown
(MTV)

Craig Hillelson
(NYC Comedy)

Kevin J Williams
(CNBC; Fox; MSNBC’s TheGrio.com;
Semi-Finalist, Midwest Comedy Competition)

Gregg Walker
(Harlem Comedy Showcase)

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Date: Monday, November 7
Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
Place: Cafe Addis, 435 W 125th Street
(Near Amsterdam)

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No Cover Charge

For more info and to RSVP visit them
on Facebook by clicking here.

It is founded by Veronica Caicedo of Caicedo Productions. She is a writer, director and producer who has overseen more than 25 successful theatrical productions. Currently, she is part time Managing Theater Director for Teatro LATEA at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center.

While theatre has been the mainstay of her career, Ms. Caicedo also has extensive film experience. In addition to producing, writing and directing her first independent feature, Circle of Time, Ms. Caicedo also produced and directed an independent feature, Shut Up and Do It; an educational short film, “Loss Of Innocence In Loisaida,” and a 2 short films, “Little Courage” and “9/12.”

“Control” was something author and actress Tanya Wright, debuting her book Butterfly Rising, cited when I spoke with her about publishing with CreateSpace at the 2011 Book Expo of America in New York City in May. For Ms. Wright, a native New Yorker and actress currently featured on HBO’s True Blood, “independent” rang true of her aspirations for Butterfly Rising. Self-publishing was the best way for her to “take control over my life as an artist.”

Ms. Wright wrote the first draft of her book then put it away for a year. When she knew she wanted to make Butterfly Rising available to the public she revisited it, asked friends she trusted to be diligent in their critiques, and upon receiving the seal of approval searched for a self-publisher that would aid in a collaborative process but allow for her to remain at the helm of producing her tome. “CreateSpace afforded a lot of flexibility. They have great programs, they have awesome designers,” Ms. Wright noted of the ease of working with CreateSpace staff and having a “personalized relationship” with copyeditors, designers, and marketing.

CreateSpace is affiliated with Amazon as the self-publishing sect of the conglomerate. It offers a variety of services to choose from in each aspect of the book production & manufacturing process including editing (copyediting and editorial evaluation), layout & design (custom cover creation, printer-ready PDF, interior layout), marketing (press releases, review services, book paraphernalia such as cards, book marks, video trailer, etc.), and an overall publishing plan that includes aspects of each of the above areas in your books creation.

For CreateSpace the connection to Amazon is a big draw to authors. This provides CreateSpace with an already popular platform as a springboard for customers. At Book Expo they had a very visible booth among other publishers near the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF) section of the book industry’s largest annual convention. CreateSpace added to their presence by having their authors on-hand for interviews.

Tanya Wright believes in elevating self-publishing and that CreateSpace is helping to do this, especially in terms of the look of books. She credits the design team with being talented in illustrating her vision perfectly and creating an “ethereal” look better than she had imagined. In terms of publicizing her book Ms. Wright has already made appearances at Hue-Man bookstore in Harlem and premiered Butterfly Rising the movie at an African-American film festival in Seattle in May.

Her publicity plans include being included in a televised program that Marva Allen (Hue-Man owner) is creating where she and twenty or so other authors and actors such as Victoria Rowell and Blair Underwood will tour the U.S. to talk about their books. She also seeks to get a “Butterfly” bus and tour with film co-star McGhee Monteith to screen Butterfly Rising, sell the book, and perform small concerts since Ms. Monteith has a band: McGhee and Me and the Star Landing Band.

Tanya Wright’s Butterfly Rising is currently available on Amazon.com. The movie of the same title based on the book is in previews on the festival circuit. You can get more information on Butterfly Rising the film at www.butterflyrisingthemovie.com.

Ms. Wright will be at the Harlem Book Fair on Saturday, July 23rd signing Butterfly Rising. She is also offering a workshop titled Business of the Unique Artist that will be held at the Countee Cullen Library during the fair.

We’ve been on hiatus and will be back soon but wanted to share some timely information with our readers.

First, we applaud the State Senate for passing historic legislation to give lesbian and gay couples the freedom to marry in New York State. This information comes right in the middle of the annual Harlem Pride Celebration. The celebration consists of several events around Harlem.

Guest Speakers:

• Lamar Thornton Founder & Chairman – New Breed Life Arts.
• Chet Whye Executive Director, HARLEM4 Center for CHANGE.
• Dedric Hammond aka Beloved Youth Advocate & Violence Reduction Specialist

When: Wednesday, December 8th, 6 pm – 9pm

Where: P.S. 175 – Cafeteria, 175 West 134th Street, (btw Malcolm X and Adam C. Powell Jr Blvds)

Sponsors: Co-sponsored by Circle of Brothers & McDougall Insurance & Financial

“Congressman Rangel was not found guilty of corruption or enriching himself. He was found guilty of poor record keeping, and improperly using his office stationery. Long ago he admitted these lapses and has worked to correct them.

“It is important to remember that Congressman Rangel was the person that initiated the ethics process, by asking the committee to look into allegations against him. He also hired a forensic accountant to clear up his tax matters and he’s already settled with the IRS.

“It is still too premature to speculate on how this will be finally resolved, but I do know that when Congressman Rangel was charged with breaking House rules, he worked to correct the violations.

“Congressman Rangel has a distinguished, demonstrated 50-year history of service to his constituents who again returned him to office in November. When his record and actions are compared with other members, reason would seem to indicate that any decision on punishment should be in line with previous findings of the ethics committee.”

Saturday, November 20th!

Thanksgiving 2010:

No Feast for the Unemployed

We will be lining up in front of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, at 33 Liberty Street, in Manhattan, beginning at 11:30am. Please wear black or dark clothes. Hats, flat caps, scarves and shawls are fine, but no white or bright colors. This is to be a somber event and we want to do our best to recreate the image from the Great Depression – because we believe this is the Great Depression II, not the Great Recession! Congress and the country have ignored us for too long. On the Saturday before the Thanksgiving holiday we will be invisible no more!

Two smiling women stand outdoors and hold signs reading
“Vote Baby Vote” and “Voting is People Power,” c. 1970.
(Photo: Gabriel Hackett /Getty Images)

*****

So Twitter is buzzing right now about the fact that only 4.7% of African Americans voted yesterday. However, CBS News reports that the number is approximately 10%.  Better, but still a problem. In real numbers, that is about 4 million Black voters out of 40 million+ Black Americans.

Why didn’t you vote? Answer anonymously and leave your location.

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NOTE: To answer anonymously just use a fake name/email address if you are asked for one.

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UPDATE: Someone mentioned in the responses that my stats were off. I agreed  the info and link below provides more details.

“African Americans” is a trending topic on Twitter right now, thanks in large part to tweets repeating the claim that only 4.7% (or, in some tweets, 4% or 5% or 10%) of blacks bothered to vote yesterday.

But it’s not true. None of it is anywhere close to true.

The real number is about 34%.

Official stats on voting by race aren’t kept, but from exit polls, vote totals, and census information, you can estimate this stuff pretty well. About 38% of the voting age population of the United States turned out to vote in yesterday’s election. There are about 26.5 million African Americans of voting age in the United States. According to exit poll data, blacks made up about 10% of the total electorate this year. About 90 million people voted in this election, and if 10% of them were black, that makes 9 million. Nine million is 34% of 26.5 million.

In other words, about a third of black adults voted this year, a percentage that’s only slightly lower than the population as a whole.

So where did the 4.7% thing come from? A tweet posted yesterday evening seems to be the source. That tweet, as you can see, is only about Wisconsin, and the guy who tweeted it later clarified that he was only referring to Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. Source

Around Harlem

Where: Booker T. Washington Beacon 54 School, 103 W. 107 Street
When: October 30
What: Family “Happyween” Day 11am-3pm; costume contest, free refreshments

Where: Cathedral of St. John, Amsterdam Avenue & W. 112 Street
When: October 30
What: Morning of the Gargoyles Children’s Workshop; 10am; $8.

Where: West 104 Street Garden
When: October 30
What: Kids’ Halloween Party 1pm-3pm, kids up to 12 yrs; costume parade, prizes, surprises.

Where: Cathedral of St John the Divine
When: October 30, 10 am – 12 pm

What: Morning of the Gargoyles: A Children’s Halloween Workshop Join this Halloween for a morning of spooky fun! The morning begins with a reading of Eve Buntings Night of the Gargoyles, then down to the workshop to assemble gargling, grimacing clay gargoyles, skeleton creatures, and paper gargoyle masks. Reservations are required. Tickets are $8 per child, with accompanying adult

5th Annual Halloween Family Disco Party

When: October 30, 2010
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Line-up for Costume Parade starts at
10:45)
Where: Harlem Center PAL, 441 Manhattan Avenue

What: Teach your little ones to do the Bump, the Twist, or even Teach them how to Dougie! (Some of them might be teaching us!) Costumes are the appropriate attire , and everyone is invited to join the costume parade to kick off the event! Suggested Donation: $10 per family

Where: El Taller Latino, 2710 Broadway & W. 104 Street
When: October 31
What: Halloween Costume Party 9pm; $10

Where: La Perla, W. 105 Street & Columbus Avenue
When: October 31
What: Halloween Party 4pm-6pm

Where: 472 West 141st Street
When: October 31
What: Uptown Nupes Kappa Alpha Psi’s Halloween Haunted House for Kids

Where: West 104 Street Garden
When: October 31
What: Family Halloween Party W. 107 St. & Col. Ave. Best costume contest; 3pm-7pm. For info 917-405-8997

Second Annual Mount Morris Park Halloween Extravaganza

The Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association has a weekend of old-fashioned Halloween Fun planned for the neighborhood kids — and the young at heart!

Saturday, October 30

1 PM: The Halloween Parade will begin in Marcus Garvey Park across the street from the Handmaids of Mary Convent and will follow the lead of the Grand Marshall,William Castro, Manhattan Parks Commissioner. The spooky group will make its way in and around Marcus Garvey Park to the judging table for the Costume Contest on Mount Morris Park West and W122-W123 Streets.

2-5 PM: Dance & Costume Contest! Categories include Children, Teenagers, Adults—and Dogs! There will be lots of fun prizes awarded to the winners

Halloween Fun Stations* will be set up on the closed portion of Mount Morris Park West between W122/W123 Streets. These stations will include Mummy Wrap, Balloon Sculpting, Face Painting–and more!

4-7 PM: Spooky Haunted House will open at The Jericho Project, 2013 Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd and W121 Street.

Sunday, October 31

4-6 PM: Trick-or-Treating Around the Mount Morris Park Neighborhood!** The kids will enjoy climbing up and down the stoops to fill those loot bags! A list of Trick-or-Treat Friendly Homes will be available on Saturday at the Parade.

6 PM: Best Dressed House Contest! New this year! People aren’t the only ones who can get decked out for Halloween! This year your house can have fun, too! Judges will pick a winner in each of three categories: The Scariest, The Most Creative and The Most All-Around Halloween Fun. So–let your house have at it. Click here to register your house.

Around New York City

Bryant Park Carousel Free Kids’ Halloween Bash

Date: October 30, 2010
Time: 12-2pm
Price: FREE; $2 per carousel ride
Where: Le Carrousel, 40th Street Side of Bryant Park

What: Le Carrousel at Bryant Park will hold a “Tricks and Treats” Halloween party for children ages 3-8. Kids are encouraged to wear their scariest costumes and come listen to spooky stories read by the carousel’s mascot, Flaubert Frog. Activities also include Halloween crafts, pumpkin painting, and tricks by a magician.

Washington Market Park Halloween Parade & Concert

Date: October 30, 2010
Time: 2-4pm
Price: FREE
Where: Chambers and Greenwich Streets

What: Rock out with Princess Katie & Racer Steve and the band during a holiday parade and concert. There will also be pony rides, games, and arts and crafts for kids. Costumes are encouraged.

West 69th St 41st Celebration of Halloween

Date: Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010
Where: W 69 St will be closed from CPW to B’way
Time: 2 – 8 pm , Treat Distribution: 5-7 pm

What: Every year the neighborhood on West 69th Street from Broadway to Central Park West is transformed in to a big Halloween Trick or Treat Party. The neighbors decorate their domiciles, don full costume regalia, and some turn their living rooms into haunted houses for the little ghosts and goblins to traipse through. It is a great place to take your kids on on Halloween.

Halloween at Children’s Museum of the Arts

Date: October 30, 2010
Price: $10 museum admission
Where: 182 Lafayette Street

What: Join CMA for a full day of spooky surprises, ghostly projects, and tricks and treats for all ages. Dress up in your most creative costume; Trick or Treat Parade starts at 3pm.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Halloween “Spooktacular”

Date: October 30, 2010
Time: 12-4pm
Price: Receive 50% off admission if dressed in costume
Where: W. 46th Street and 12th Avenue

What: Kids of all ages are invited to pick out pumpkins at the Intrepid Pumpkin Patch and decorate their jack-o’-lanterns. There will also be face painting and other seasonal craft projects.

Pumpkin Festival in Central Park

Date: October 30, 2010
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m
Where: Central Park, the Bandshell Area(enter at 72nd Street)

What: Pumpkin Festival takes the very best traditions of the autumn season and offers them all for FREE! Activities will include: Circus Berzerkus Haunted House, Dunkin Donuts Scarecrow Competition, Arts & Crafts – including pumpkin decorating and much more

The scope and vision of the inaugural Harlem Pride event by its founding board members is that it will be an annual festival event held in the “Harlem Gayborhood”. The festival will include the quintessential block party along with several other events.  They hope to expand each year to become the essential vehicle for Harlem residents to celebrate their LGBT & SGL communities and pride.

The purpose of Harlem Pride is to promote LGBT and SGL Pride in Harlem by providing opportunities for networking and communication among organizations and community members. To do that, Harlem Pride will become a community partner in support of existing programs and they will also produce their own events that will celebrate LGBT & SGL pride. Lawrence Rodriguez and Carmen Neely, two Harlem LGBT activists/residents saw an opportunity to celebrate the LGBT & SGL community and its role and contributions to Harlem’s rich history. They envisioned an annual celebration of gay liberation in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park Historic District because the area has become a thriving “gayborhood,” and would be an excellent symbol of uptown gay pride.

There are several Harlem Pride events occurring. Below are just a few. Stay tuned for more.

• “Coming Out” Art Show: A Historical Retrospective of New York’s Trailblazing LGBT Institutions — Honored organizations include Black AIDS Institute, The Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, Fierce, Folsom East Street Fair New York, Harlem United Community AIDS Center, The Hetrick-Martin Institute, Human Rights Campaign, Imperial Court of New York , Leslie & Lohman Gay Art Foundation, LGBT Center in NYC, LIVE OUT LOUD, PFLAG, SAGE and SALGA.
  Date/Time: June 12, 2010, 2-10pm
  Location: Casa Frela Gallery, 47 W. 119th Street (btwn Lenox & 5th Avenues)
• Harlem Pride Official VIP Launch Party
  Date/Time: June 25, 2010, 7pm – 4am
  Location: Billie’s Black Bar/Restaurant/Lounge, 271 W. 119th Street (btwn St. Nicholas Ave & Frederick Douglass Blvd)
• Harlem Pride Day Celebration — Live entertainment and vendors. There will be something for everyone from music and dancing to health and wellness information.
  Date/Time: June 26, 2010, 12-6pm
  Location: 119th Street Between Lenox & 5th Avenues
• Bowl with Pride
  Date/Time: June 27, 2010, 6-10pm
  Location: Harlem Lanes, 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (btwn W 125th and W 126th Street)

For more info, visit HarlemPride.org