ENTERTAINMENT, B RONX & B ROOK LYN S T Y LE – A DV E RTI S E M E NT
Braata Productions ‘Old Time Grand Market’ Returns For Two Shows Only, Dec. 14 & 15, NYC
NEW YORK, NY. Thursday,
November 21, 2019--
Christmas is a time of year
when we celebrate our cultures
and traditions. And
where else to celebrate those
heartwarming traditions, if
not at the gran’ market?
Well, get ready for a celebration
of ‘Christmas in the
Caribbean’, here in New York
City, on December 14 & 15.
Braata Productions will
once again offer New Yorkers
an exciting and colorful taste
of a traditional Caribbean
Christmas, when it presents
its annual Old Time Grand
Market celebration at two
venues in the city.
First up, will be the Harry
Truman High School auditorium,
located in Co-op City,
Bronx, on Saturday, December
14. The vendor’s market
will ‘open for business’ at 5:30
pm, followed by the concert
segment at 7:00 pm.
Folks in Queens, Manhattan
and Staten Island, will get
their sampling of the annual
yuletide traditions a day later
on Sunday, December 15, at
The Park Church Coop, 129
Russel Street, in Greenpoint,
Brooklyn.
The vendor’s grand market
will open at 3:30 pm, to
be followed by the Christmas
concert at 5:00 pm.
Seeped in holiday traditions,
‘Grand Market’ – is a one
stop offering of music, food,
craft vendors and numerous
activities for children and
families, in an atmosphere of
merriment and merchandizing.
However, by including
performers and participants
from the Caribbean, Braata
has dramatically expanded
the appeal and the audience
for the event, over the past six
year.
“Ole time gran’ market is
important to help keep the
Caribbean holiday traditions
and practices alive among
our people, so we don’t forget
where our traditions started
and how they make us feel”,
offered Andrew Clarke, who
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, D 68 ECEMBER 13-19, 2019 BTR
will celebrate his seventh season
as producer of the annual
event.
Sharing the main stage
with the Braata Folks Singers
this year, will be The Batingua
Arts Ensemble, representing
Trinidad & Tobago
and the nationally acclaimed
balladeer and recording artiste,
Pluto Shervington, from
Kingston, Jamaica.
Though a largely Jamaican
tradition at Christmas
time, ‘Ole Time Grand Market’
incorporates the wider
Caribbean Diaspora and encourages
broad-based support,
evidenced by its growth
and success over the years.
“When we started in 2013,
we had no idea how we would
be received. The spirit of the
traditional Caribbean Christmas
was fading somewhat in
New York, and we thought
this would evoke a bit of
nostalgia for some and be a
source of cultural education
for others”, offered Clarke,
who conceived the traditional
(Braata) folk and culture ensemble
in 2009.
Vendors participating in
this family friendly event,
will be selling everything
from food and craft items to
toys and Christmas specialties.
Patrons and especially
first generation Jamaicans
will be taken back in time
to the days of pound, shilling
and pence (national currency),
artifacts including
clothes iron, chimmey (bed
pan), and displays of holiday
treats like black cake, punch
a crème and sorrel, that make
Christmas time, a holiday
like no other.
The Jonkanoo Parade is
sure to raise the level of awe
and excitement across all age
groups while browsing thru’
the marketplace!
“It’s a collaborative with
a number of cultural groups,
restaurants and key stakeholders
who see the need to
keep our culture vibrant and
expose it to our younger generation,
who are not so familiar.”
This year’s community
partners are Team Jamaica
Bickle (TJB) and the Jamaica
Progressive League (JPL).
Tickets for both shows are
available on the Braata Productions
website and at select
Caribbean outlets in the boroughs.
Tickets are $25 presold,
$30 at the door and $20
for seniors and students with
ID, at the door.
For tickets and information,
call (917) 668.2209. See
also www.braataproductions.
org .
/www.braataproductions
/www.braataproductions