Toy Giveaway and Food at C’bean Paradise on Dec. 17
The Holiday cheer will be in full bloom at Caribbean Paradise Restaurant on Sunday, Dec 17 for their annual Christmas Toy and Giveaway Dinner.
And the invitation goes out to all Montrealers to come and enjoy an afternoon of food, music together with all the joys of the season.
A signature event in the community for the past several years, this fun-filled evening is open to all: rich and poor; old and young. It’s an opportunity to share the warmth of the Holidays in a family atmosphere.
Together with the endless supply of food and other goodies, there will also be a free flow of holiday music from a long list of local performers to keep the crowd entertain all afternoon.
The event runs from 11AM to 7 PM and will feature a live band, along with Dj 610, and Dj Jerry and Knoss. Santa Claus will be visiting, so be nice. Volunteers are needed
It’s a presentation of Caribbean Paradise in collaboration with Mystic Music & Love and WD Productions. Info.: 514-363-8080 or email artscope47@gmail.com or wdee4real@gmail.com.
Church of God Of Prophecy Free Christmas Dinner
Christmas is a time of giving and sharing, so with the Holiday season approaching, the Montreal West Church Of God Of Prophecy is doing its part to make this a better Christmas for residents of Côte-des-Neiges, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Snowdon and Côte Saint-Luc.
On Thursday, December 21 at 2:30 pm, the Montreal West Church of God Of Prophecy will host its second annual Free Takeaway Christmas Dinner at 5255 De Sorel, just across from the de la Savane metro station. So if you’re looking to have a lovely Christmas dinner in the company of others in a warm festive atmosphere, while partaking of a delicious home-cooked meal then come and join us.
In order to be a part of this special celebration it’s important that you be registered beforehand by simply coming to the office and placing your name on the list by December 15th. You will be served in-house, or if you prefer a Takeaway meal will be prepared.
If you’re unable to come out, not to worry, volunteer drivers will be on hand to drop off meals in designated areas of the communities stated.
No time of year is better to share love and the Holiday spirit than Christmastime and giving back. It’s in keeping with the year-round philosophy of the Montreal West Church of God Of Prophecy.
Call the church office for more information regarding the Takeaway Christmas Meals. Deadline to place your name on the list is December 15th. Contact us Monday-Thursday 10AM to 3 PM. 514-484-8271.
Nato Christmas Special featuring Caribbean Voices.
Joy to the World
Contact Staff
The joys of a Caribbean Christmas will overflow at the Caribbean Paradise Lounge on Saturday, December 9, for Nato’s annual Christmas Concert when a long line up of exciting performers take to the stage to celebrate the season.
So that will be the place to be for those yearning for the music and the all the festivities associated with this time of year.
Parang music mixed with carols, calypso and Soca will be in free flow for the evening, which will be headlined by the Caribbean Voices, a group known for their melodic and nostalgic journeys through time.
Love Man Kent who over the past few years has served up more than his share of Christmas music will also be on stage and he will definitely have the audience baila-ing… (the Spanish parang dance)
The evening of music and dance will include performances by Montreal’s favorite calypsonian Skippy, who never misses an opportunity to lure the crowd to the dance floor.
Grenadian super entertainer, Doggies has carries a big bag of seasonal favorites in his repertoire and will definitely be one of the big attractions for the evening.
Other entertainer on this big Christmas show are Sugarman, Badadawn, Handy Andy, Cory-Don, Pufty, Briea-Marie, Evelyn Houston and Ezra.
And you know it’s a big deal when Jab Jab is on hand to provide back up music to the performers.
Saturday December 9th at Caribbean Paradise, 8080 Newman. Music By Abna and Vibe Master. Admission 15$ in Advance, 20$ at the door. Show starts at 8pm. Info 514-363-8080, 438-937-1924.
FOOD LOVERS, LET’S GET EXCITED AGAIN
Contact Staff
On Sunday, December 10, The Spice Island Cultural Day Association of Quebec would like to get you excited again with a grand Grenadian-style Christmas Breakfast Party.
The event is planned to remind you all of back home on Christmas Morning. From Tania Log to Smoked Herring, traditional Christmas ham, pig feet souse, salt fish souse and fried plantain to bakes, Cocoa Tea, Bush Tea and everything else in between. This Grenada Christmas Breakfast Party, one that will be reminiscent of the Mount Morris Style Breakfast in Grenada, is not to be missed.
Greenz Restaurant, located at 395 St. Jacques, in Lachine, is the place. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and food, fun, entertainment and excitement will continue until 4:00 p.m. Good old St. Nick might surprise everyone.
Tickets are only $20 for adults and $10 for children. This will include breakfast, a glass of sorrel or ginger beer, and a raffle ticket. Guests are advised to get their tickets in advance as space is limited. Tickets are available at the Caribbean Curry House in Cote des Neiges, Princessa in LaSalle, Greenz Restaurant in Lachine and Marche Colonnade on the West Island.
DJ Vybz Master and Selector Miguel will supply music, along with live entertainment by Doggies, Delta Antoine and Jenny Noel leading the sing-a-long. There will be lots of gifts and prizes to be won.
Happy Holidays from Spice Island Cultural Day Association.
For further information call (438) 387-1336 or (514) 620-6612.
Don’t miss “Spice Island on the West Island” on July 21, 2018.
About Scott Joplin and the Rebirth of Ragtime on Dec. 8
Contact Staff
Don’t feel bad if you don’t know who Scott Joplin is, hardly anyone does. But you and almost everyone else on earth know his masterpiece musical composition, The Entertainer: palaba-lapam-patam-patam palabalappatampalatam. Yep, the theme song of the Oscar-winning movie, The Sting, with Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
Composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch’s adaptation of the masterpiece for the movie earned him an Oscar and a #3 position on the Billboards Pop Charts, causing many to think, erroneously, that the song was his.
In fact it was written and recorded in 1902 by an the African-American composer Joplin, who was born sometime in November 1868, to a father who was a freed slave and a mother, a housekeeper, both amateur musicians.
The composition is heralded as the anthem of the Ragtime era.
Moshe Guerrier is a lay pastor working with several churches and charities across Montreal. He is also a local musician/composer with a passion for Ragtime and a lingering interest in the life and works of Joplin, the man he considers to be the “most important” composer in American history.
“I see him as the father of modern Black music because he was part of the foundation of Ragtime, which represents the heritage of Black music.”
Guerrier says that at the age of 21, he discovered Joplin and was completely enthralled by his talent and more importantly his pioneering role in music.
Now he wants to showcase his idol and the music he popularized to enthusiasts in Montreal, especially in the Black community, many of whom know next to nothing of the acclaimed composer.
To do so, he’s going back to what used to be the hood, Little Burgundy or St. Henri, to stage a show that he categorizes as “The Rebirth of Scott Joplin or the Renaissance of Ragtime.”
It will feature two of Guerrier’s favorite local performers Mimi Blais, a pianist dubbed the Queen of Ragtime because of her loyalty to the genre, and a player and a researcher.
He says Mimi’s wide-ranging knowledge of the genre and her capacity on the piano makes her someone all music lovers in the city should become familiar with.
The event will also showcase the emerging talent of 14-year-old Jason Fabien, a prolific and talented player who Guerrier says will one day assume his rightful place at the top if he continues to be interested in the music.
“He was 12-years-old when he heard him playing a few bars of the Maple Leaf Rag, composed by Scott Joplin, and I knew this young boy can be or will be the next King of Ragtime…”
The event takes place on December 8, at the Montreal Arts Centre, 1844 William St., Montreal, from 5pm to 7pm. Part of the proceeds will go to Le Club Énergie in St. Henri.
Info.: moshe390@yahoo.ca
Music of the season featuring saxophonist Dexter Johnston and pannist Rashid Wilson
Christmas Affair At Holiday Inn
Contact Staff
The elegant halls of the Holiday Inn Hotel on Cote de Liesse will come alive with the sound of music and all the festivities of the season as the Social Committee of West mount SDA Church host its annual Christmas Affair on Sunday, December 10.
In the midst of the cocktails and fine dining, a sterling line-up of exciting performers that includes some well known and some up-and-comers will be on show for what is becoming a signature holiday-time event.
One of the stars that will be making a triumphant return to the stage at the Holiday Inn is crowd-favorite Dexter Johnston, who has a habit of getting audiences up and dancing to the infectious sounds of his saxophone.
Alicia Walton, a long-serving member of the church will also be spreading the joys of the season in song. They will be joined by Rashid Wilson on his steelpan, who has been thrilling music lovers with his dexterity and creativity as a player.
Also on stage will be community performers such and Erickson Skerrit, Imani Skerrit, Isaria Peters and Leonie Wilson.
So Monrealers are invited to The Holiday Inn, 6500 Chemin de la Cote de Liesse to enjoy cocktails at 5pm served in the garden, to the sound of Rashid on the steel pan, followed by dinner at 7pm. Info call: Patricia Beckford 514-236-3127, Ann Spence 514-603-7632.
Steelband Music for Xmas
Hands of Steel Entertaiment presents Steelpan Christmas Holiday Concert . Saturday, December 16, 2017 doors open @ 2:30pm show begins @ 3pm. Featuring Coronation Elementary Steelband, Special Connection, Salah’s Steelpan Academy and CDNBCA Steelpan Band and more. 5$ for kids 5 and up, 10$ for seniors and 15$ for adults. 4810 Van Horne Ave, for info Desiree 514-791-4542, 514-655-6239.
T&T Annual Xmas Party
It’s the season to celebrate, so join Trinidad & Tobago Sports and Cultural Association Of Montreal for their Annual Christmas Party, Saturday, December 2. Santa will be there at 6:30pm with gifts for all children under 8-years-old. Doors open at 5:30pm with supper at 8pm. Music by Dj Jerry and Dj Abna. At Le Manoir, 5319 Notre-Dame-De-Grace. Info. Susan 514-363-3513, Feeda 514-754-3083 Andre 514-889-2493, Melo 514-855-1087
St. Kitts & Nevis Christmas Gospel
Enjoy an evening of beautiful songs with St. Kitts & Nevis Cultural Association Of Montreal as the present their Christmas Gospel Concert on Sunday December 3, 2017, 5-8pm at Caribbean Paradise, 8080 Blvd Newman. Featuring Steffin Noel, Delter Antoine-Parris Precious Jewels, The Diamond Sisters, Jenny Noel, Constantine Greenaway, Brimstone Band and more. Info Constantine 514-773-6267, Egbert 514-366-8256, Caribbean Paradise 514-363-8080. Proceeds go towards our children’s Christmas program and Scholarship Program.
