FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 21, 2019 • BUZZ • THE QUEENS COURIER 79
A worthy cause VICTORIA’S
vschneps@gmail.com
I recently attended an event
at the beautiful Loeb
Boathouse, sitting in the
heart of Central Park at the
72nd Street entrance, to hear
about a worth-while cause.
I didn’t know I couldn’t drive
into the park and I felt lost, so I
jumped into a pedicab who took
me to the handsome restaurant
and catering hall.
Th ere, I was introduced to
90-year-old Gloria Starr Kins,
editor in chief and publisher
of Society and Diplomatic
Review, a publication devoted
to covering the diplomatic world
at the United Nations. She
was reporting on the people
assisting the Nyaka AIDS
Orphans Project, which
helps orphans and AIDS
victims in Uganda.
I had the pleasure of
meeting the group’s
Executive Director
Twesigye Jackson
Kaguri, who was born
in the town he now
devotes his life to.
He was even recognized
for his work and
was given the 2012 CNN
Hero Award.
Jackson shared with me
his latest book, “Victory
for my Village,” about his life’s
journey that started in a small
village in Uganda and takes us
through his path to America,
where he received his college
degrees, but he never forgot
his hometown. He writes
about how he created programs
for his village that had
been devastated by HIV leaving
many orphans. Th anks
to him, help arrived for the
villagers. Th e book’s subtitle
is “Fulfi lling the Promise,”
which is a sequel to his previous
work, “A School for
my Village.”
At the luncheon I attended,
Nyaka thanked and recognized
runners who participated
in the New York City
Marathon, raising money
for his cause. A worthy run
worth fi ghting for!
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Sherrye
Henry with
Twesigye
Jackson
Kaguri.
Dining at Sylvia’s with an icon
I had the pleasure of dining
at the famous Sylvia’s
restaurant in Harlem
with an icon of that community,
Lloyd Williams,
the executive director of
the Harlem of Chamber of
Commerce.
Because of my media outlets,
I had joined the Harlem
Chamber of Commerce and
got to know Lloyd and am
delighted to be working with
him on his remarkable projects.
Coming up in the summer
of 2020, he’s already
planning another extraordinary
event: a music festival
that he hopes will bring the
world to Harlem.
Spending time with Lloyd is a walk down
the history of Harlem and the people who
have made it great.
We met at Sylvia’s for dinner. Sylvia
Woods, known as the Queen of Soul Food,
started her restaurant in 1962 and now the
next generation has taken over and has
maintained the high quality food and service
she is known for worldwide.
The restaurant and catering hall fills
almost an entire city block. When I
arrived early for my dinner date, I sat at
the bar and watched how the tables filled
up on a rainy Monday night.
My friend Tanya tells me that on Sunday,
the line for brunch is out the door because one of
the features besides the scrumptious buff et is the
wonderful music with guests getting to sing, and
Tanya’s husband always takes the microphone!
We sat in the back room and I relished looking
at the photos of all the famous people who
have eaten at Sylvia’s. My
favorite Ruby Dee and her
husband Ossie Davis were
looking down on me, as was
President Clinton.
Th e room is painted in a
soft green and off ers great
acoustics for the music. Th ere
were two birthday celebrations
and it was a treat to hear
the staff sing a very energetic
“Happy Birthday” to the
guests.
Lloyd and I shared the coconut
wrapped fried shrimp
and Sylvia’s Sassy Chicken
Wings made in
a tasty sauce. My
crispy friend chicken
was served with
delicious along
with delicious garlic
mashed potatoes
and string beans.
Lloyd chose lima
beans and corn off
the cob as his sides.
Each dish lived up
to my expectations.
We fi nished our
dinner with desserts
— I had the mouthwatering
peach cobbler,
and Lloyd had
the coconut pie.
Both the company
Lloyd Williams with
Sylvia’s son, Van.
and dining experience will be embedded in
my memory bank.
Try Sylvia’s at 328 Malcolm X Blvd. in Harlem.
Th ey do take reservations (212-996-0660), but
patience is an important ingredient in dining at
Sylvia’s. Try it and you’ll love it, too!
Tabitha Kaguri, founder of
EDJA, with Gloria Starr Kins.
Nyaka board member Mark Mahoney
with Noelle Mahoney in the back yard
of the Boathouse Catering Hall.
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