This year we are featuring the gift shop at the August Wilson Center for African-American Culture located at 980 Liberty Ave., Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222. Check out the shop before or after a performance or just visit the gift shop for your holiday needs. There is so much to see and I know you’ll love it.

Hour of power

DEC. 16—King of Kings Baptist Ministries, 5169 Broad St., Garfield, will host the Hour of Power Bible Study at 7:30 p.m. Every Wednesday individuals can come and learn about the Word. For more information, call 412-661-3550.

Farewell reception

DEC. 17—Mount Carmel Baptist Church, 90 Port Perry Rd., North Versailles, will host a Farewell Reception for Sister Ellen Fox from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  The reception will say goodbye to Fox who has been called to the mission field and will be moving to Africa Dec. 31. All missionaries are asked to come and be a prayer force. Registration is requested. The event is free. For more information, call 412-823-4049.

Whether entertaining a large group or hosting a small gathering, holiday cooks can showcase their culinary flair with a sumptuous spread of starters and sides. And, with timesaving ingredients, such as cream soups, store-bought mashed potatoes and prepared pastry sheets, it’s a cinch to complement the main dish with appetizers and side dishes that look and taste elegant. Using these simple recipes, holiday hosts can impress family and friends and still have time to enjoy the party.

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Don’t you wish you could be a fly on the wall, or in this case, a bird in a tree? The more I hear the Tiger Woods saga the more it sounds so crazy, so far-fetched. When Woods wouldn’t give up any more information it sent the tabloids into a frenzy. I’m sure “Saturday Night Live” will do a parody on the story and I decided to have some fun with the most recent news story myself.

In my parody of that night near Orlando I picture Tiger and his wife having an argument over alleged phone calls made to one woman who has been called a professional home wrecker and another who claims to have saved all of Tiger’s text messages. Isn’t technology wonderful? Wifey is not happy and she wants to know what’s up. Tiger does his best Rick James impression and says “I’m Tiger Woods.”