Christmas Wish - Brief Article

Ebony, Dec, 2000 by Joy Bennett Kinnon

The aromas wafting from December kitchens tell the tale. Cakes and pies, cookies and candies, Christmas fudge and fruitcake--all are holiday signs. Children and adults await the holiday season for its toys and treats. While there is still time, decorate the tree, wrap the presents, prepare for Kwanzaa, and spend quality family time at home. Here are some holiday activities and events to help celebrate family and welcome the new year.

WHAT'S HAPPENING WHERE

ATLANTA

* Yo' Alice. Jomandi Productions' world premiere of a hip-hop musical fantasy loosely based on Alice in Wonderland. Maurice Hines is the director and choreographer. Robert Ferst Center for the Arts. Dec. 14-Jan. 7, 2001.

* Black Nativity. Gospel musical conceived by Langston Hughes. Atlanta Civic Center. Dec. 20-24.

BALTIMORE

* New Year's Eve Extravaganza. City celebration. Baltimore Convention Center. Dec. 31.

BOSTON

* National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials Convention. John B. Hynes Convention Center. Dec. 5-9.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

* National Black Caucus of State Legislators Convention. Adams Mark Hotel. Nov. 27-Dec. 2.

CHICAGO

* New Year's Eve Celebration. Laser light and fireworks show. Ferris wheel countdown. Navy Pier and Chicago River. Dec. 31.

CLEVELAND

* Annual Kwanzaa Festival. Kanisa House II, Elyria. Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

DALLAS

* Dallas Kwanzaa Festival. Fair Park, Automobile Building. Dec. 9-10.

DETROIT

* Ain't Misbehavin.' A Thomas (Fats) Waller Revue. Plowshares Theatre Co. at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Through Dec. 3.

* For Honor and Valor: African Americans in the United States Military 1775-1953 AT&T Gallery. Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Through Jan. 21.

JACKSON, Miss.

* Community Kwanzaa Celebration 2000. Medgar Evers Community Center. Dec. 24-30.

* First Night-Jackson. Alcohol-free, family celebration to ring in the new year. Downtown Jackson. Dec. 31.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

* Congress of National Black Churches Leadership Conference. Marriott-Downtown. Dec. 6-9.

LOS ANGELES

* Whittier Christmas Parade. Downtown parade hails the opening of the holiday season, featuring celebrities, floats, classic cars and marching bands. Dec. 9.

MEMPHIS, Tenn.

* Christmas Parade. Tom Lee Park, downtown. Dec. 9.

MIAMI

* Orange Bowl Parade. One of the world's largest nighttime parades. Along Biscayne Blvd., downtown. Dec. 31.

MOBILE, Ala.

* Christmas Parade. Annual downtown parade features floats, antique cars, marching bands and Santa. Dec. 16.

NEW ORLEANS

* A New Orleans Christmas. Events at various city sites herald the arrival of "Papa Noel." Dec. 1-31.

* New Year's Eve. Jackson Square countdown features a New Orleans-style street party to count down to 2001. Dec. 31.

NEW YORK CITY

* Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. 42nd season at City Center. Nov. 29-Dec. 31.

* Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. Alice Tully Hall Dec. 7, 9 & 13.

* Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Harlem. Dona Discovery Center at Central Park, 110th Street between 5th & Lenox Avenue. Dec. 7.

* KwanzaaFest 2000. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Dec. 15-18.

* Kwanzaa Celebration. American Museum of Natural History. Noon-5 p.m. Dec. 30.

* Jazz for Young People: Who is Louis Armstrong? Featuring the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The Apollo Theatre, for school groups only, Dec. 15. Also at Alice Tully Hall, Dec. 16.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.

* 8th Annual African Expo Christmas and Kwanzaa Festival. Myriad Convention Center. Dec. 2-3.

PHILADELPHIA

* The Buffalo Soldiers. Through pictures by Frederick Remington, the African American Museum's exhibit shows these historic soldiers. Dec. 14-Jan. 28, 2001.

ST. LOUIS

* Kwanzaa Holiday Expo. America's Center. Dec. 1-3.

SAN FRANCISCO

* Black Nativity by Langston Hughes. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre is celebrating its 20th anniversary season of producing plays by leading Black playwrights. Nov. 24-Dec. 24.

TUSKEGEE, Ala.

* New Year's Eve gala at Kellogg Conference Center, on the campus of Tuskegee University. Dec. 31.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

* Audible Artworks: Selected African Musical Instruments. National Museum of African Art. Through April 8, 2001.

ISLAND DESTINATIONS:

THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN

* Christmas Day. Dec. 25.

* Boxing Day. Dec. 26.

ARUBA

* Saint Nicholas Day. Children and adults celebrate the day with gifts. Dec. 5.

BAHAMAS

* 9th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. Nassau/Paradise Island. Dec. 1.

* 27th Annual Night of Christmas Music. Nassau/Paradise Island. Features the Royal Bahamas Police Force Band and leading choirs and chorales. Dec. 3.

CURACAO

St. Nicholas Day. Dec. 6. New Year's Eve. Official holiday (half-day). Brion Plaza. Dec. 31.

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS

* Harbour Night Cultural Festivals. St. Croix. Dec. 6 and 20.

* Crucian Xmas Festival. St. Croix. Various sites. Dec. 2-Jan. 6, 2001.