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Main Street Cultural Center Grand Opening Weekend: May 2nd-4th, 2025

Excitement at the opening of the Main Street Cultural Center
Photo by Allison “Chucky” Allen⁠

Allison “Chucky” Allen, Author

Friday Night: Open House & Taste Testing

Community, Love and Celebration

Introducing the Main Street Cultural Center and Building excitement, despite the heavy rainfall the center had a packed house. With live entertainment from DJ Sho Nuff (Kevin Garner) as community members filled the space, admiring photography  artwork captured by Christina McField hung among the walls throughout the space. Community members were filled with excitement and joy and many many questions and getting their bellies full with a local food tasting from Main Street Kitchen staff and servers. Following the performance by special guests the Monogram Hunters, our most recent RPPL Artists Big Chief Tyrone and Big Queen Denise blessed us with a powerful performance and the storytelling behind the Monogram Hunters.

Brandi and Carlton Turner with Monogram Hunters Big Chief Tyrone and Big Queen Denise.
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Main Street servers along with named mentioned kitchen staff Danielle Craft, Cherrelle Davis line cooks with Chief Phillip Brown and team
Servers Zy’Nila Conecin, I’lekia Frazier, Xiauna Turner and Carla Broome along with lead server Karla Turner Bailey 
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Saint Allen Austin with Unabridged Architecture John and Allison Anderson
Austin is captured here in this moment with the architects that brought the vision of the Cultural Center to life, explaining that the logo of Main Street’s T-shirts was inspired by the green beams seen in the center of the space replacing what were once solid column bars separating the middle section of the building. 
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen

Saturday Morning/Evening

Ribbon Cutting Grand Opening

Engaging community, funders and donors as owners Carlton and Brandi Turner along with Board members, architecture team and many other team members and supporters prepare to cut the mark of the Main Street Cultural Center opening for business and fellowship. We heard words of encouragement from speakers, Jean Greene (Board Chair), Mayor Broome (Mayor of Utica), David Lewis (MAC), Pastor Owens (Community Advisory Group), Mike Grote (Alembic Community Development), John and Allison Anderson (Unabridged Architecture). With amazing music and spoken word artists and experimental video, performances by Alexis McGrigg, Jesse Robinson with Marice Turner. Klaccik Carpenta (Cellist), eZra Brown and band, Amanda Furdge and Jammayette Washington. 

Carlton and Brandi Turner with Mayor Broome and Board members
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Carlton and Brandi Turner with Jean Greene and Mayor Broome
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
Jesse Robinson along with Marice Turner, Klaccik Carpenta,Jammayette Washington, Alexis McGrigg, eZra Brown and Band and Amanda Furdge
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen

Sunday 

Rooted in Culture and Spirituality
A Southern Soul Food Sunday and a Hallelujah good time!!

To close out our final day of our Grand Opening we were blessed in the space with an amazing performance by The Utica Community Choir under the direction of Mr. Curtis Shears while enjoying Sunday dinner. Reflective storytelling sessions by Mrs. Mary Lofton and Pastor Owens with closing remarks and visions for the future from Carlton and Brandi Turner. 

Mrs. G. Turner, Jean Greene, Carlton Turner, Mrs. Mary Lofton, Pastor Owens and The Utica Community Choir
Photographed by Allison “Chucky” Allen
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