Grammy Award Winner & NYS Assemblymember at Sugar Hill Museum

During this last full month of Summer the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum will feature celebrity participation at two of its signature events in the same week. On Thursday, August 15th, “Nights at Sugar Hill” will feature a live performance from Grammy Award Winning Saxophonist Wayne Escoffery presented in collaboration with Tsion Cafe. The following Sunday, August 18th PLAYDATE will feature a reading of the best-selling children’s book “Dreamers” by NYS Assemblymember Catalina Cruz, who is the third “Dreamer” elected to public office in the United States and first in New York State. Assemblymember Cruz will also participate in a Q & A session after the reading.

The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum, located at 898 St. Nicholas Avenue at 155th Street, is dedicated to art and storytelling for children and their families in the historic Sugar Hill section of Harlem, NY. Museum Director and Chief Curator Lauren Kelley says “We always look to celebrate art and storytelling in all its forms and we are pleased to be able to do so with a Grammy Award winning musician to share his art through music and an elected official whose story is a walking example of what this country is supposed to be about: a place of opportunity for all to achieve. ”
Nights at Sugar Hill is a public program series dedicated to highlighting the history and legacy of the Sugar Hill neighborhood and Northern Manhattan. Held every third Thursday evening of the month from 6 – 8pm during the summer, and open to the general public, Nights at Sugar Hill features art-workshops, tours of Museum exhibitions, conversations with Sugar Hill historians and performances.

Grammy Award winning tenor saxophonist Wayne Escoffery is one of the Jazz world’s most talented rising stars. For the past decade Escoffery has toured the globe with the trumpeter, recorded seven CDs with The Tom Harrell Quintet and co-produced four of those releases. He has been a member of The Mingus Dynasty, Big Band and Orchestra since 2000 and has made several recordings with the group. Over the years he has recorded and performed internationally with a who’s who in Jazz including Ron Carter, Ben Riley, Abdulah Ibrahim, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Al Foster, Billy Hart, Eddie Henderson, Rufus Reid, Wallace Roney and Herbie Hancock 2to name a few. Escoffery is dedicated to music education and presents lectures and masterclasses on Jazz music. He is currently the saxophone instructor for The New Jersey Performing Arts Wells Fargo Jazz for Teens program and in the Fall of 2016 was appointed Lecturer of Jazz Improvisation and ensemble coach at the Yale School of Music as a part of Yale University’s new Jazz Initiative, the first of its kind for the University. Wayne Escoffery’s performance is presented in partnership with Tsion Café, located at 763 St Nicholas Ave. Tsion Café will host a post-event jazz jam session at the restaurant with discounts for everyone who attends “Nights at Sugar Hill.”

PLAYDATE takes place at the Sugar Hill Children’s Museum on the third Sunday of every month. It is the Museum’s open invitation to children and families from all over New York City to experience the Museum for free. There is no admission fee on PLAYDATE and the day features art-making, storytelling, musical performances and more. On August 18th, the Museum proudly hosts NYS Assemblymember Catalina Cruz to read the best-selling book “Dreamers” by Yuyi Morales for the children and families at the Museum. After the reading there will be a Q&A session.

Catalina Cruz was elected to serve the residents of the New York State Assembly’s 39th District which encompasses the neighborhoods of Corona, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights in Queens. Assemblymember Cruz was born in Colombia and came to Queens at the age of 9. Catalina grew up as a DREAMer; she lived in the United States for more than 10 years as an undocumented American. Catalina was raised by a single mother, who like many immigrants had to work multiple and menial jobs to provide for her family. Inspired by her mother’s perseverance, Catalina has committed her career to fighting for our community and to ensure our workers, neighbors and families not only survive, but thrive.

The Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art & Storytelling hours are Thursday – Sunday, 10am until 5pm. Admission is free for children up to 8 years of age, $4.00 for children age 9 – 17, students with ID and Seniors (65+) and $7.00 for adults. PLAYDATE, on the third Sunday of every month is FREE for all.

About The Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling
The Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling is a contemporary art museum for children rooted in principles of social justice. We strive to strengthen our culturally rich neighborhood with a space where children and their families grow and learn about Sugar Hill, and the world at large, through dialogue with artists, art and storytelling. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect David Adjaye, the Museum opened in October of 2015 as the cultural capstone of the Sugar Hill Project, a multi-use building developed by Broadway Housing Communities (BHC) which includes permanent affordable housing for individuals and families, and the Sugar Hill Museum Preschool.

For more information, please visit www.sugarhillmuseum.org.