New market set to grow
It’s looking like a win, win, win for Brooklyn’s heavily-Caribbean East Flatbush neighborhood as the city Economic Development Corp. announces the longtime Flatbush Caton Market will be transformed into an expanded and renovated market, 250 units of 100% affordable housing, and a new space for the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
There will also be additional community space in the complex, which includes a commercial kitchen serving to support the long-term growth and vitality of dozens of local vendors and entrepreneurs.
New York City Council recently approved the de Blasio Administration project, which is partly supported by capital funding from the Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, City Councilman Mathieu Eugene and the Council.
BRP, a minorityowned business enterprise, is the project’s developer.
An anticipated component of the project is the approximately 250 new units of affordable housing — 22% available for low-income residents, 30% available for moderate-income residents and 48% available for middle-income residents.
Carnival group’s anniversary gala
Members and supporters of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association started marking the organization’s 50th anniversary last week with a blacktie gala, remembering the creators of the group’s now-famous New York Caribbean Carnival and its predecessors.
The event, held Thursday at the El Caribe Country Club in Brooklyn, recognized longtime association president Carlos Lezama and his wife Hillary, Jessie Waddle who brought Caribbean carnival to Harlem in the 1920s, pioneer Rufus Gorin who helped bring that Manhattan carnival tradition to Brooklyn decades later, and the past and current participants who continue the event in the city. Follow the events and activities leading up the 2017 New York Caribbean Carnival at www.wiadcacarnival.org.
There will be more about the gala’s many honorees in next week’s Caribbeat column.
Africa films plus
“Play the Devil,” a drama set against the backdrop of Trinidad Carnival, and “Malcolm X: Struggle for Freedom,” which explores the human rights leader’s travels outside the U.S. and the development of his world views, are two of the works screening at the African Film Festival, the festival starting Wednesday at the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
“Play the Devil” can be seen Friday at 4:30 p.m. and next Sunday at 8:45 p.m., when Govan Q&A will hold a Q&A session. “Malcolm X” wil be presented next Sunday at 4:15 p.m. followed by the Sifiso Khanyile South African film “Uprize!” and a Q&A with the directors. Visit www.africanfilmny.org/events for a full schedule.