It's true folks...  The Largest, Longest-Running Black, Gay Winter Getaway event is coming to an end.  The past 15 Years have been amazing... the Last THREE over-the-top!  We'd like to go out on the ultimate HIGH and are planning a GRAND FINALE you won't forget!

WE10 Update:
AS OF MARCH 4, 2009,
SINGLES ARE COMPLETELY SOLD-OUT... A NEW WE RECORD!

In addition, Pre-Sales have been INCREDIBLE... More than 200 guests have already booked
in the first 2 months.  That is 
Unprecedented!
There's no question WE10: "The Grand Finale" is going to sell-out... EARLY.

We encourage you to book as soon as possible to be a part of this historic, final
"WE-Experience".  Contact your Winter Explosion Agent for more information.

 

 

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Taking A Moment to Look Back: President's Day Weekend 2009

WE09 IN REVIEW:

 "Fifteen Feelin’ Fabulous!”

FANTASIA did her THANG!  Despite a broken foot, Ms. "Idol" came to let the Kids know she meant business!!!  At one point during her electrifying performance that had the WE-Audience literally on it's feet the entire time, she remarks... "Hey, I'm 24 years old!" as if to explain why she brings so much fire and talent.  Makes perfect sense to me, however, there is really no explanation for how and why she blew the mountain OFF Winter Explosion 2009, leaving the audience breathless, clamoring for more and ultimately ignited to party all throughout the final night of the event.
After experiencing Fantasia at Winter Explosion 2009,
there's no question about the legacy of 'music mastery' as created by the black female artist.   Fears of it dying with Billie, Ella, Sara or not being properly handed-off by living legends such as Aretha, Gladys, Diana, Natalie, Chaka or Patti can safely be put to rest.  As long as Fantasia Barino is on the planet, the legacy of black music and the ART of performing is more than safe.  "Thank you 'Tasia!!"
It can not go without being reported, that after a solid one hour "explosive" performance, where selections ranged from "Hood Boy" to Aretha's "Rock Steady" to her rivoting "Summertime" (performed acapela standing atop a table in the middle of the audience with a single spotlight illuminating the wonder that is Fantasia)... it cannot be missed that after ALL that and MORE, Fantasia literally partied 1/2 the night away with WE-Explosion guests in spite of her broken foot.  She danced with, got close to, took pictures with EVERYONE who wanted to and had to literally be carried to her room (I'm not lying) when she could no longer walk on her own and doctors who happened to be attending Winter Explosion insisted she get off her foot.  How's that for "fan fair"?!

Fantasia Barrino Picture Gallery Fantasia Barrino

Fantasia and Winter Explosion's Executive Producer, Don eL Johnson, met and became 'fast friends'.  She was excited about being the featured artist at WE09 at it showed!

 

 

 

 

and what can we say about...

 ELISABETH WITHERS Affectionately dubbed  "Queen Elisabeth" by WE-Host Extraordinaire Rayceen Pendaravis, Ms. Withers seemed to float down to Winter Explosion like an angel and spread her "goodness" all around the resort.  She too ROCKED the WE-Stage with a high-energy, gritty and 'mesmerizing' performance.  WE-Executive Producer, Don Johnson, later told Elisabeth and it's absolutely true: "You just earned yourself 500 new fans for life!"  With the stage transformed into "Liz's Juke Joint" replete with full bar and a bed (set designer Ray Dandridge did his thing!), Liz burst onto the stage with an incredible interpretation of Ms. Ross's "The Boss".  Her instant rapport with the audience beckoned her to share who she is, where she's been and she took her time getting to know us over the next 45 minutes.  Each song drew the audience deeper and deeper into "the world of Liz", the climax perhaps being "Sista" which she did upon request, musically re-enacting the scene from the film adaptation of "The Color Purple".  During that particular performance, Elisabeth Withers once again channeled "Shug Avery", the character she breathed new life into during her impressive Broadway run.  In her creative genius, she somehow secretly collaborated with WE-Host Rayceen Pendaravis, who made his brilliant acting debut as "Ms Celie".  Together they titillated the audience with a fusion of the jukejoint scene where Shug sings to Celie about affection and appreciation ("Sista, you been on my mind..."), all the while affirming the shy, self-conscious Celie.  Since nothing about Rayceen is shy, one can only imagine him -in full costume- coyly and quite convincingly putting hands over mouth, head down averting his eyes from Shug's just like Whoopi did 25 years ago... the audience went wild! 
Toward the end of her performance, Liz found herself standing in the middle of the audience where she paused for several seconds, appearing to bask in the warmth of the audience's love.  The song had ended but she was clearly not finished as she emotionally reprised the chorus acapela along with her exquisite-sounding background singers, bringing the WE-Audience to a peaked FRENZY!  Gesturing for the music to come back in, Liz made her way back to the stage where she finished the song and bid the audience goodnight.  A full 5-minute standing ovation, deafening cries and pounding by the "Liz-captivated" audience demanded her attention and she came back for a sensational encore.  Somewhere in the midst of all this, requests from "The Color Purple" musical began to be shouted out.  "Queen Elisabeth" graciously obliged, thrilling the audience once again with a gritty acapela version of "Push The Button", a song she made famous as "Shug" on Broadway.  Amazingly, the audience knew the song and exuberantly responded at precisely the right moments, giving Liz quite the pleasure jolt! 
The next morning, Ms. Withers took Winter Explosion to CHURCH as featured guest soloist during the "Oh Magnify The Lord" Worship Service.  With nothing more than simple piano accompaniment by talented Chester Brooks, she demonstrated with utter ease, inimitable skill and a comfort that can only come from many Sunday morning solos, just where her talent, strength and hope come!  Her emotional rendering was so powerful, the congregants stood, clapping, crying and screaming until the Reverend Kenneth King had to move the service along.  Ever graceful and gracious, Ms. Withers remained through the beginning of Fantasia's performance, during which Fantasia said to her Color Purple colleague "Hey Liz!" and then shared with audience that the two were, indeed, friends.  It was a crowning moment of 'sisterhood' and an homage to "Queen Elisabeth", one of many to take place this Winter Explosion weekend!  Thank you Elisabeth Withers for the gift of YOU during our special 15 Year Anniversary Celebration!

Below, Elisabeth Withers experiences her musical self while Winter Explosion Operations Director, Anthony Smith, enjoys the moment.

Not only did Elisabeth Withers Headline Winter Explosion's Saturday Night "Urban Lounge" concert, but she was also the featured psalmist during the Sunday Morning Worship Service!

 

 SPECIAL FILM SCREENING:
"FRIENDS & LOVERS: SKI TRIP 2"
(so nice, we had to screen it twice!  Thanks Maurice!)

(Screenings hosted by the Film's writer, producer, director MAURICE JAMAL.  Saturday, February 14, 2009 was officially named "MAURICE JAMAL DAY" at Winter Explosion.  The entire film festival was dedicated to Maurice Jamal films: "The Ski Trip, "Ski Trip 2: Friends and Lovers" and "Dirty Laundry".  Winter Explosion guests loved and appreciated his presence and accessibility.  Many were inspired and are now life-long Maurice Jamal supporters!

 

And YES, We Still Ski...
 

See YOU Next Year!

Continue

We Came, We Saw, We "Experienced", We ROCKED!!!  Some say WE09 was the BEST Ever... What do YOU think?  Give us your comments, feedback, suggestions using the "ASK CeeCee" link below:
 
» About us:
It's hard to believe that (15) Fabulous Years have passed since Winter Explosion (WE) was born!
Continue
<<< click here

» Payments:

Continue <<< click here

» WE10 Package Prices:
Quad:   $595.00 per person
Triple:  
$615.00 per person
Double:
$645.00 per person
Single: 
SOLD OUT
Continue  
<<<click here for Package Inclusions

» Customer Service:

"Ask CeeCee" (WE10 Guest Relations Contact)
Continue <<< click here


» Updates:

THEMES HAVE BEEN SET!  CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT SPECIAL THINGS WE ARE DOING FOR "THE GRAND FINALE"

STAY TUNED...
WE10 ARTIST TO BE ANNOUNCED, HOWEVER, AFTER FANTASIA, PATTI, CHAKA & OTHER INCREDIBLE ARTISTS, YOU KNOW WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL PLANNED FOR YOU FOR  THE GRAND FINALE"

2X9 WE ARTISTS:
It was a "Color Purple" Situation with electrifying American Idol
and Broadway Diva
Fantasia Barrino
FANTASIA! 

Fantasia: live in concert at WE09 during the Sunday Night "Pink & Platinum Charity Ball".

Also featured at WE09 during the Saturday Night "Urban Lounge" was sassy, sexy, new millennium edition Shug Avery from the "The Color Purple" on Broadway:
ELISABETH WITHERS!


»Accommodations


HUDSON VALLEY RESORT
click here

 

Winter Explosion Video


Continue to celebrate our "Historic Event"... even though we've finished, even if you were not able to attend!  Consider making a contribution to the Winter Explosion Program and help us continue the legacy that has caused Winter Explosion to come to be known simply as "THE EXPERIENCE":
 

The Economic slowdown has affected us too!  Sponsorships, Advertising and Vending were all down this year, so your support is needed now more than ever to keep Winter Explosion going strong!    If you've ever attended, enjoyed, celebrated, benefited from, been a guest, vendor, contractor or even just heard of the positive "Winter Explosion Experience" and would like to participate in helping the WE program, especially as we celebrate the GRAND FINALE, closing out an amazing run of 16 incredible, consecutive, yearly gatherings, please consider contributing as a PATRON -see below.  All Patrons contributing after February 12, 2009 will be listed in the WE10 Souvenir Booklet.

$25 Patron: Your Name will be listed in the 2010 Souvenir Booklet as a Winter Explosion Supporter
 

$50 Patron: Patrons contributing $50 or more are invited to write a personalized greeting or message up to 25 words to appear in the 2010 Souvenir Booklet.
 (e.g. "I attended Winter Explosion in 1999 and had a blast!  Here's wishing you well on your finale year!"!)
Select Your Own Donation Amount Here Patrons contributing $50 or more are invited to write a personalized greeting or message up to 25 words to appear in the 2010 Souvenir Booklet.
(e.g. "I attended Winter Explosion in1999 and had a blast!  Here's wishing you well on your finale year!"!)

WINTER EXPLOSION SINCERELY THANKS YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION, CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PRAYERS!

 

© Copyright 2009 Winter Explosion. All Rights Reserved, Unauthorized use prohibited.

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