Walter’s World: Weekend Picks Food, Wine, Art, Theatre and Dance

By Walter Rutledge 

As 2012 begins to draw to a close it is clear “Tis the season to have fun!” This weekend there is something for everyone. Have an afternoon of art, food and spirits, experience a soulful musical or see dance by seasoned professionals and the stars of tomorrow. Here are a few events happening around the city and in our community. 

Taste Harlem Food and Cultural Tours joins ArtCrawl Harlem™ for an afternoon of art, food and wine on a guided trolley tour and tasting on Saturday December 15 from 1pm to 4pm. The tour will visit four Harlem galleries, Art in Flux, Art Horizon LeRoy Neiman Art Center, Harlem Wine Gallery and the Studio Museum in Harlem. At each venue food and wine will be paired, while you experience the art.

This is a great way to introduce art lovers to art in Harlem and public spaces.  Sit back and relax aboard the ArtCrawl Harlem™ Trolley as our tour guide shares facts about art, Harlem and points of interest along the way. For more information call (212) 866-7427 or email artcrawlharlem@gmail.com. Seating is limited for reservations visit www.artcrawlharlem.com or call 1 (800) 838- 3006.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues their annual five-week holiday season through December 30, at the New York City Center. The 54^th season of the company will offer a diverse roster of works with the world premiere of Another Night by Kyle Abraham performed to Dizzy Gillespie’s jazz classic A Night In Tunisia, and three company premieres, Petite Mort by Jiří Kylián, Artistic Director Robert Battle’s Strange Humors and From Before by Tony Award-winning choreographer (The Lion King) Garth Fagan.

The company will also present audience favorites including Ohad Naharin’s Minus 16, Ronald K. Brown’s Grace, Paul Taylor’s Arden Court, Rennie Harris’s Home, and Ailey classics Cry, Love Songs and For ‘Bird’ With Love and his signature masterwork Revelations. For a complete listing of works and more information about the Alvin Ailey New York City Center season please visit www.alvinailey.org. Tickets can be purchased at the New York City Center Box Office, through CityTix® at (212) 581-1212 or online at www.alvinailey.org or www.nycitycenter.org.  For group sales, call 212-405-9082 or e-mail groupsales@alvinailey.org.

On Saturday December 15 is the last opportunity to see two Harlem based musicals. The new Sing, Harlem Sing! (1pm show time) and the longest running off Broadway production, Mama I Want to Sing (4:30pm Showtime) at the Dempsey Theater, 127 West 127^th Street. All seats are $35, Students and seniors are $30 and children 14 and under $20. To reserve tickets call and for group rates call (212) 280 1045 or visit info@mamafoundation.org.

The Uptown Dance Academy will present their 17^th annual Black Nutcracker on Wednesday December 19^th, 7pm at the Oberia Dempsey Center 127 West 127^th Street.  The production is a uniquely uptown blend of ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop and acrobatics, the work culminates with a “raise the roof” African section set en pointe. General Admission is $35 and VIP Gala Reception and performance tickets are $45. There are young audience daytime performances also open to the public on Tuesday December 18 at 10 am and 12noon and Wednesday December 19 at 10am, 12 noon, and 4pm. Tickets for the one hour and fifteen minute abridged daytime performance is $7.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.uptowndanceacademy.com. and at the Uptown Dance Academy located at 167 East 121^st Street. Group sales for the daytime shows are available. For more information call (212) 987-5030 or visit williamsrobin@aol.com.

As always, thank you for allowing me to share my world with you.

In Photo: 1) Logo 2) Shaq 3) Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 4) Kia Thornton- Miller and Tyrone Flowers 5) Danielle Hamilton, Kashawn Shand, Quiana Haynes

Photo Credit: 2) LeRoy Neiman artist 3) Andrew Eccles 4) Ken Wydro 5) Warren Edwards

Related articles

• Walter’s World: Ailey Season Begins Today (harlemworldmag.com)
• Walter’s World: Weekend Picks- Dance and Celebrating Greatness (harlemworldmag.com)
• Walter’s World: Weekend Picks- More Dance for the Holidays (harlemworldmag.com)
• Walter’s World: Weekend Picks Food, Wine, Art, Theatre and Dance (harlemworldmag.com)
• Art Crawl: Taste and See The New Harlem Renaissance (harlemworldmag.com)