Hello, my dear friends and happy holidays to you and yours from me and mine. Next week is Christmas week and I hope Santa Claus brings you all the good things in life to you and your family. This is my favorite time of the year, Thanksgiving Day of course, because I was born on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. There are so many festive things to do and so many festive places to go such as the Baltimore Farmers’ Market & Bazaar. They always offer extended hours for the holiday season which started a couple of weeks ago and will go through December 20, 2015 on Sundays. I love hanging out at this place on Sundays. It is located on Saratoga Street between Holliday and Gay Streets, underneath the Jones Falls Expressway. It is just a perfect place to shop for festive meals, unique gifts and holiday decorations. Market-goers can find a variety of seasonal items for their Thanksgiving or holiday meals such as: turkeys, brisket, hams, oysters, fresh and smoked fish, cheeses, pies, cider, apples, sweet potatoes, nuts and more. Are you getting hungry yet? In addition to ingredients for holiday cooking, those looking to purchase the perfect gift can browse the bazaar for unique craft items such as jewelry, soaps and lotions, holiday ornaments, vintage clothing, mugs and original works of art, handcrafted baskets, leather goods, wreathes, Christmas trees and listen to good music while you shop. Girlfriend! Let me tell you, it is so relaxing. Check it out!
Evelyn McCallum recently celebrated her 95th birthday at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Pikesville, Maryland with family and friends. McCallum is a deaconess and member of the Concord Baptist Church. She is a retired employee of the Baltimore Public Schools. She is also a June 1940 graduate of Frederick Douglass High School. May God continue to bless you with health and strength!
For my jazz lovers, “Charm City Jazz” will host an event featuring Eddie Baccus Jr., backed by Fahrenheit, honoring the music of Grover Washington Jr. on Saturday, December 19 at 8 p.m. at the Radisson, 2004 Greenspring Drive in Timonium, Maryland. There will be a cash bar and food available for purchase. For ticket information call 443-858-9781.
Eugene “Gene” Brister, brother of Cleve Brister and the father of Ebone Ashby and husband to Laverne Brister passed away last month. He worked primarily as a longshoreman but his passion was catering and the restaurant business including the Governor’s Club. Condolences to Cleve Brister and the family.
Join the Reginald F. Lewis Museum for the Annual Community Kwanzaa Celebration on Sunday, December 27 at 1 p.m. Enjoy a showcase of contemporary African fashion, an African musical performances and Sankofa Dance Theater. View the candlelight Kwanzaa Ceremony and you can partake in craft activities and storytelling by Maria Broom and Jali D. While you are there, you can also visit the African Marketplace for Afrocentric art and purchase mementos. This event will be held at the Museum, 830 E. Pratt Street. For more information, call 443-745-3502.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! There will be a festive New Year’s Eve Show hosted by Don Jones and Lolo, formerly of Magic 95.9 on Thursday, December 31 from 9 p.m. until 3 a.m. at the Grandstand Ballroom at Pimlico. The show includes the groups: Blue Magic, First Class, Spindles, the Delfonics and Boo’Ne & Z (I am not sure who this is, I never heard of them), but they must be good if these two guys are showcasing them. Your ticket includes catered food, vendors, champagne, premier seating, free parking, noisemakers & hats and cash bars. For more information, call 443-525-2715 or go to: www.ticketleap.com.
“Little Melvin” Williams passed away on Thursday, December 3, 2015. He was also known as, “Slim” or “Black” because of his build as well as the fact that he always wore black. He was known in the drug world from the old Pennsylvania Avenue days but in later years became a serious advocate for young people using his indoor flea market on West North Avenue for positive mentoring and training. Rest in peace my dear friend.
By the way, yours truly, “Rambling Rose” and my husband “Shorty” are planning a long overdue and well-earned vacation for the Christmas/New Year’s Holiday. As you know, we do not fly, so we are driving across country to Las Vegas and California. We are leaving on the 19th of December and returning January 7th. But I promise, I will keep you informed what is going on in Baltimore while I am gone and will tell you all about our trip when I return.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY KWANZAA to all my readers and friends, may God continue to bless you in many ways. Remember, you can email me at rosapryor@aol.com or call me at 410-833-9474 and for those of you who are not on social media, you can mail your pictures, flyers, press releases and invitations to my office at 214 Conewood Avenue, Reisterstown, Maryland 21136.
UNTIL THE NEXT TIME, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL. I’M USICALLY YOURS.