Foods consumed during the holidays tend to be both symbolic and tasty.  Foods of the Chinese New Year are no different.

The Chinese New Year is the longest and most important holiday on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Also known as the Spring Festival, the holiday is based on solar and lunar movements and occurs on different dates each year.  Lasting more than two weeks, the Chinese New Year celebration is based on the legend of the Nian (年).

Annapolis’s Winter Restaurant Week kicks of February 20, 2012 and lasts through February 26, 2012.Presented by the Annapolis Business Association, the fourth annual event is the largest ever. The 2012 cold weather edition will feature 41 participating restaurants all serving two-course lunches for $15.95 and three-course dinners for $32.95. Select restaurants will be offering two-course breakfast menus for $12.95.

Christmas in Puerto Rico is a lengthy affair. The holiday begins in early December (for some right after Thanksgiving) and sometimes doesn’t end until mid January. Known as Las Navidades, the celebration combines Catholicism with traditional Puerto Rican culture.

The presidential pardoning of one lucky turkey is a fairly modern practice.  In 1989, George H.W. Bush became the first president to pardon a turkey. Before then, turkeys were presented to the president and consumed by the president.

The Wannabes is a kids and family comedy airing in 92 countries on several networks. Filmed in Detroit, Michigan, the show is the brain-child of writer/producer Doreen Spicer-Dannelly and follows the exploits of fame-seeking teens played by real life stars, Savvy. Spicer-Dannelly, a notable Morgan State University alum, took time out of her busy schedule to share her true Hollywood Story with MCCN editor Catrina Sally.

The Wannabes is a kids and family comedy airing in 92 countries on several networks. Filmed in Detroit, Michigan, the show is the brain-child of writer/producer Doreen Spicer-Dannelly and follows the exploits of fame-seeking teens played by real life stars, Savvy. Spicer-Dannelly, a notable Morgan State University alum, took time out of her busy schedule to share her true Hollywood Story with MCCN editor Catrina Sally.

Amy Winehouse was found dead in her London home on July 23, 2011. The Grammy-winning British singer had recently fought a very public battle with drug and alcohol abuse and a recent coroner’s inquest has revealed that at the time of her death, Winehouse had more than five times the legal drink-drive limit (British) in her system.

The Upsilon Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will be hosting an informational session for their annual Precious Pearls Cotillion Program on October 29, 2011 at the Northwest Hospital Education Center. The chief aim of the program is to serve as a mentoring and enrichment initiative for high school juniors and seniors.

On October 22, 2011, the Upsilon Epsilon Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. will be hosting a community health and economic fair. Mission Restoration: Restoring the Health and Wealth in Our Community will provide resources for improving the health of the mind and body, as well as pertinent information regarding cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and asthma.