The Grinch won’t steal Christmas at this festive row home on 13th Street in South Philadelphia.
Photo by Randy Giancaterino
FunTimes Magazine Culture + Entertainment column, week of December 9, 2024
Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.
― Maya Angelou, Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem
Enjoying December to the very last drop of joy is the best way to end the year. All around the world, it will be celebrated with the same spirit but by different names: St. Nicholas Day, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Las Posadas, Diwali, Boxing Day, Saint Lucy’s Day….No matter what the name, here are some free or low-cost activities highlighting the glory of December – the month that poet James Schuyler described as a “calm secret exaltation of the spirit.” Please don’t forget: When event-going, take precautions, especially when among groups and while indoors, with the ongoing risk of COVID-19 variants.
Dr. Nikia Owens To Speak at Celebrating YOU Women’s Conference & Expo
Saturday, December 14, 2024. Dr. Nikia Owens, President & CEO of Campaign for Working Families, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, will discuss how individuals and families can achieve economic empowerment and financial mobility as a “Spotlight Speaker” at the 10th annual Celebrating YOU Women’s Conference & Expo (CYWC) in Center City Philadelphia. Dr. Owens will focus on how working low-to-moderate-income families and individuals learn the tools to achieve economic empowerment and financial mobility. She will provide information on how communities can advance through tax-assistance programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit, which has secured millions of once-unclaimed dollars in tax credits, and been an effective poverty-busting program in cities, small and large. Dr. Owens also will be part of a podcast about financial education and available tax credit programs on a day that shines a light on women’s achievements, empowerment, education, and networking. The conference theme is “Press Forward,” reflecting the spirit of women’s resilience and determination. In just a few years, Dr. Owens has emerged as a respected champion of money-saving financial programs and has widely promoted the value of annual tax credits, especially in grossly underserved communities. Campaign for Working Families serves Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey. At the conference, hear from business leaders, authors, and filmmakers making a difference including acclaimed motivational business speaker Les Brown. Check out workshops about health & wellness, business, career development, volunteerism, the transition back to school, and entertainment. Shop in the CYWC Marketplace. Dr. Owens will speak in a segment between 3 p.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST; the overall conference is 10 a.m. EST to 6 p.m. EST. Pre-registration required. Tickets, starting at $37.50. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1201 Arch St. Email: magnifyyouressence@yahoo.com or CYWC2024.EVENTBRITE.COM.
FunTimes Holiday Virtual Event Faithfully Spotlights Culture
Thursday, December 12, 2024. It’s all about having faith. FunTimes is presenting a holiday virtual event, “Faith, Family & Culture: Learn how different religions celebrate the winter holidays,” focusing on Black communities. Coach B. Wright (Bulinda Wright-Jones) and Juliette Njoku, Ph.D, will lead an engaging session celebrating cultures and religions. It will be a fun but educational interfaith exploration of family and spiritual dynamics in our modern-day society. Coach B. Wright is an author, certified life coach, podcast host, and event planner. Dr. Njoku is the Chairwoman of Nigerian American Mothers For Youth Advancement and Judiciary, State of New Jersey. The holiday workshop will be moderated by multi-media professional Lavonne Nichols, a certified life coach and founder of Say Something Good LLC promoting women’s empowerment and trauma recovery. Free, noon to 1 p.m. EST. Instagram Live. funtimesmagazine.com.
Plantation Artifacts Offer Window Into Early American History
Wednesday, December 11, 2025. For Seth Rockman, it’s a material world. Meet Rockman, the author of Plantation Goods: A Material History of American Slavery, as he discusses his revealing book. It’s a study delving into the biggest stories of early American history through ordinary artifacts such as shoes made in Massachusetts for the use of enslaved people in Mississippi. The book looks at American goods in the early 19th century, from the process of connecting the communities where they were made to those towns where they were used. It chronicles and reexamines “the geography of slavery and freedom from American independence to the Civil War. “And in doing so,” the promotional material explains, “we can confront questions that continue to preoccupy us in the age of the iPhone and fair-trade coffee: what are the moral, ecological, and political relationships linking consumers and producers across long distances? What does it mean to be “complicit?” Rockman, an associate professor of history at Brown University. Serves on the faculty advisory board of Brown University’s Ruth J. Simmons Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice. Hosted by the Program in Early American Economy and Society. Free, 5:30 p.m. EST. The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St. 215-546-3181 or librarycompany.org.
The Holiday Magic Of Manayunk
Thursday, December 12, 2024. The joy of lights is synonymous with the holidays. And Main Street in Manayunk does not disappoint. It will be aglow at Manayunk Gets Lit — a spectacular lights display competition featuring more than 80,000 sparkling lights and participation from more than 50 local businesses. The lights will be illuminated in their full glory through December 31st. Stroll over to Canal View Park, 4418 Main St., to see Manayunk’s giant holiday tree. Enjoy food, beverage deals, shopping specials, live holiday entertainment, and the free Jolly Trolley ride with Santa down Main Street. Check out the Philadelphia Freedom Band and a cookie-decorating competition at The Manayunk Welcome Center, 106 Grape St., in the evening, from 5 p.m. EST to 8 p.m. EST. It will be a daylong festival of festive fun, free, from 8 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Main Street in Manayunk. https://manayunk.com/events/holidays-in-manayunk.html.
NABJ Stands Out And Stands Alone
Thursday, December 12, 2024, The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has a good cause to celebrate. It’s the professional communications trade organization’s first full year in Philadelphia as the region’s only NABJ chapter. And the folks at NABJ certainly love a good party, especially to let off some steam from all of those demanding deadlines, and, plus, it’s around the holidays. Stroll over to its Mingle, Sip & Enjoy shindig. Enter into a Drawing for the Miles Davis print will be held. Free admission but pre-register, 5 p.m. until your writing hand is tired. Bake’n Bacon Restaurant, 1148 S. 11th St. E-mail: NABJPHILLY@gmail.com or NABJ.Philadelphia.org. Aspiring or professional communicators can join NABJ Philly or renew their memberships: https://nabj-philadelphia.org/join-us/.
Boost Your Holiday Spirits
Thursday, December 12, 2024. Who says you have to have liquor to enjoy the holidays? Not the folks at the Silver Marketing Group who are serving up different kinds of spirits this holiday season. Check out the group’s Non-Alcoholic Holiday Party at Nutmeg Bar and Market in festive South Philly. Get your non-alcoholic drink responsibly for the holidays on “The Avenue.” Grab some vegan food, mocktails, and other great drinks like South Philly 75 “grownup sparkling lemonade.” Free admission, 6pm Nutmeg Bar and Market, 1835 E. Passyunk Ave. 215-407-7511, or eventbrite.com.
Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason go shoulder to shoulder-musically.
Sibling Virtuosos Are In Rhythm
Friday, December 13, 2024. After successful solo recitals in recent years, internationally acclaimed cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason will unite in Philadelphia for a concert hosted by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. The British brother-sister duo has natural chemistry crafted through years of playing together; it’s not a stretch to say that the twenty-somethings finish each other’s musical notes! Enjoy cello sonatas by Fauré, Poulenc, and Mendelssohn, and the Philadelphia premiere of Tor Mordôn (“Sea mount of light”) by British composer Natalie Klouda. From Mozart to Gershwin, the siblings are versatile, making classical music accessible to the masses. Inquire about ticket prices. 7:30 p.m. EST, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts / Perelman Theater, 300 S. Broad St. 215-893-1999, 215-569-8080 or ensembleartsphilly.org or pcmsconcerts.org.
A Jazzy Christmas
Friday, December 13, 2024. John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ethel Waters. Philadelphia’s jazz heritage is long and impressive. The Philadelphia Tabernacle carries on the time-honored tradition with the final event of its Jazz Nights series this year. Catch the cool vibe with live performances that capture the jazz-infused joy of the holidays. And enjoy holiday treats, fun, and food. Free, 7 p.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST. Philadelphia Tabernacle, 1801 Spring Garden St. E-mail: info@philadelphiatabernacle.org, 267-820 8183 or philadelphiatabernacle.org.
The Answers To Love Revealed ‘In the Morning’
Saturday, December 14, 2024. Movie lovers or just lovers will enjoy this film featuring Brooklyn dwellers searching for romance. It’s part of All About Love Film Series: In the Morning (2014). Writer-director Nefertite Nguvu’s film debut dives deep into the complex highs and heartbreaks of romance and relationships. The movie focuses on three love stories and will be presented with the ongoing companion exhibition, Mickalene Thomas: All About Love, highlighting the themes of kinship and femininity reflected in All About Love. Join a discussion with director Nguvu after the screening. $15, 2 p.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. Barnes, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Also, check out the Barnes collection and Mickalene Thomas: All About Love for free. You can see the movie’s trailer now: barnesfoundation.org; for event tickets, 215-278-7000 or https://buy.acmeticketing.com.
Be Merry In Olney
Saturday, December 14, 2024. If you’re looking for an urban winter wonderland, we have the place: The Olney Winter Festival. Check out the festive decorations, listen to holiday music, take holiday photos with Santa, and buy holiday gifts. Enjoy snacks from local businesses at The Greater Olney Library, 5501 N. 5th St., participate in fun holiday activities, and hop on the Christmas Trolley around Olney. Free, noon to 3 p.m. EST. Olney Community Collaborative, 5458 N. 5th St. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/olney-winter-festival-tickets-1057212504059.
Holiday Basement Party To Rattle The Roof
Saturday, December 14, 2024. Classix 107.9 Presents Lady B’s Holiday Basement Party 2024 featuring Philly’s own DJ TouchTone will be rolling on the river. The DJ-journalist of “The Lady B Show” will host a classic old-school Philly-style party. Dance until midnight with R&B jams, current and throw-back hip-hop, and funk from vintage Motown. $30 to $55, 8 p.m. EST to 12 p.m. EST. Rivers Casino Philadelphia, 1001 N. Delaware Ave. http://rnbphilly.com.
