Colour Meets Soca At Style Files

I am liking the fact that you can mix shopping with Carnival at the Style Files "Colour Me Soca" event coming up on Friday January, 20. 

Very nice accessories perfect for UWI Fete's theme "Zangalewa", think I might visit Style Files to see if I can score one of the African inspired "Celnance Clutch".

http://www.facebook.com/TheStyleFilesTT

COLOUR meets SOCA this Friday 20 January at "The Style Files."

Preview and shop our Carnival collection, sip drinks, and lime. The dynamic Erphaan Alves (In Your Eyes, On De Spot) passin tru to do a lil live ting.

Soca, shopping, and Carnival vibes. From 5pm til. Tell a friend.

The Style Files located at 26 Maraval Rd (next to Xpress Nails and Spa)!

For additional info call:628-FILE (3453),467-6565,or 789-0159(Sheppy)

KomPlekshuns By KalifaP Carnival Makeup

click to enlarge

http://komplekshuns.blogspot.com/2012/01/carnival-makeupbacchanalists-are-you.html

http://www.facebook.com/Komplekshuns

Carnival Kicks Offer Code

Carnival Kicks has quite a selection , a few noteworthy points:

1. Our ordering process is simple, click and purchase and it'll be shipped
2. Prices compared: local competition TTD$350+ versus TTD$250
3. Our office is located at 18 Nizam St., St. James 622-7151; there you can get a limited selection of styles, go in-try on- purchase.
4. For a much larger selection of boots, sneakers, carnival accessories - makeup, glitter, stockings, wigs, monday wear, etc. Go to www.carnivalkicks.com. Items that are purchased can be shipped for $10 and collected at the MasCamp of your choice
http://www.carnivalkicks.com/Articles.asp?ID=57
5. Carnival Kicks proudly sponsors the Kes and Machel HD Dancers. The professionals dance, day after day, fete after fete, in their carnival kicks...
6. Coming soon...men's

A special TCD coupon has been created for your readers to get 20% off from now until Jan 31 Coupon Code "TCD2012"

http://www.carnivalkicks.com/?Click=31

UWI Fete 2012 - Zangawela

Last year I was very impressed with UWI Fete's interactive Facebook Page to market their Fete Bollywood and this year I am still pleased at their social media presence.

For 2012  UWIF Fete have added, in addition to the menu, a listing of all the performances, times and which stage.

-          Rhapsody New Generation 2.00 pm to 3.00 pm Stage 1

-          Roy Cape All Stars: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm Stage 2

-          Karma : 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm Stage 1

-          Dil-e-Nadan: 5:00pm to 6:00pm Stage 2

-          Kes: 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm Stage 1

-          Shadow/Nelson/Ronnie McIntosh: 6:30 to 7:30 Stage 2

Also new is a MAP of the venue. I am really liking the map idea, now you can print it and study the venue before you arrive if you wish so no need to ask anyone if they know where anything is. I am hoping on the day there are also maps available when you arrive, now that would be cool! 

And to maximize the all day affair there will be two meal servings; Brunch from 12noon - 2pm and Lunch from 2pm - 6pm. Take a look at the menu and learn some more about this year's theme and what is in store, I cannot wait for UWI Fete on Sunday... Carnival diet will be on pause:

Zangalewa – What’s on the menu?


“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well”
– Virginia Wolfe

And to that we can add party well. We have challenged the chefs in the Zangalewa kitchen to delight your taste buds. Here’s a peek at some of the treats you can expect on Sunday:

Italian: Chicken Parmesan, Pan Seared Fish sautéed in Garlic Butter, Fettuccini, Penne Pasta, Creamy Alfredo Sauce, Pesto Sauce, Garlic Bread, Green Salad

Greek: Moroccan Lamb, Cabbage Rice (Lahanorizo), Greek Style Peas (Arakas), Greek Roasted Red Potato or Greek Fish Stakes (Galeos Skordalia) and Greek Salad (Horiatiki Salata)

Ethiopia: Injara with peas and Chicken, Kinche - Brown rice/Barley or Asa - Fish.

Nigerian: Moi moi & plantain, Melon Soup/Fufu, Okra soup and Fufu, Pepper Soup, JOLLOF RICE AND CHICKEN, OFADA RICE AND HONEY BROWN BEANS AND BEEF.

Arabic: Arabic Lamb or Fish, Moussaka, Festival Rice and Salad
Caribbean: Jamaican Rice & Peas, Plantain Tum Tum Balls, OR Picante Fish or Pepper Pork, Salad

Indian: Curry Goat, Channa and Aloo, Pumpkin, Bus-up-shot and ‘mother in law’ served on a suhari leaf
….and of course a sea of finger foods like Maracas Bake and Shark, Ribs, Dumplings stuffed with crab in a curry sauce, roast pork and more. Come and dine well at Zangalewa.

Zangalewa...It’s time for Africa.

After another sell-out year in 2011, the UWI Fete, the original All-Inclusive, celebrates 22 years, on 22 January with a journey to Africa. Established in 1991, UWI FETE is the cornerstone of the UWI Development and Endowment Fund. Over 3,000 bursaries have been awarded by the Fund to promote academic excellence, to assist deserving students and to facilitate student interchange between the Campuses of the University of the West Indies.

The theme for this year's much anticipated fete is "Zangalewa" which will bring the rich cultures of Africa, the land of festivals, to life for guests with exotic offerings of music, food, drinks, and décor by Randal Halfhide of Another Idea.

Guests can start their day with brunch that will include an array of local classics. Our chefs will make sure that UWI Fete’s guests experience the very best in food including a tantalizing mix of authentic African cuisine. And of course, Zangalewa guests can also feast on Arabic, Indo, Creole and International culinary delights.

“Last year we re-introduced two stages and it worked so well we are doing it again”, the Fete’s Chairman Dennis Ramdeen confirmed. “The additional stage allows us to enhance our guest experience by providing more space and comfort to party goers and we are really focused on that. In fact, we will also be adding large screens so that visitors to Zangalewa don’t miss a beat”, Ramdeen added.

Next year’s UWI Fete music includes Kes The Band, Karma, Dil-E-Nidan, Dr Roy Cape and his All Stars, with a special back in times session featuring Shadow, Nelson, Dr Stalin and Ronnie McIntosh. Recently the University of the West Indies conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) degree upon Roy Cape in recognition of his contributions to Caribbean music over the past 52 years. "This Doctorate really comes as such a surprise to me and I am very elated and honoured to have been chosen to receive it by the people of the University and to know that the academic fraternity considers what I have done over the years to be worthy of such recognition and reward," Cape said. Cape and his Band is the longest serving band at UWI fete and will be doing something special for Zangalewa.

For UWI Fete 2012 Ticket info you can call Alana Campbell-John at UWI Student Advisory Services, St Augustine: 662-2002 extension 82326 or Nastassia Maharaj at Pepper Advertising, Newtown, POS, 622-2762/6502.

They Call me Mrs Fete :Yeah! - The Review

Fete : Island People Yeah, O2 Park Chaguaramas
Price:Inclusive: $395, Hyper Inclusive: $595
Date: January 14,2012

Photos: http://www.triniscene.com/tsv7/galleries/?page=html&id=GALE9CF52

Location

As someone coming from the East, Chaguaramas in the West can be quite a long drive to and from the event. Thankfully even with two other events in the area on Saturday there was no traffic  en route when we arrived at 8PM. The only caveat with O2 Park is no assigned parking, you have to park along the main road though there were police and security directing you on where to park.

Ambiance/Decor

O2 Park underwent a facelift in 2011 and this is the second time I am seeing the revamped space.On entering you were greeted by models wearing costumes from Island People's Carnival 2012 presentation "Heroes" and truth be told this was the first I had seen of the redesigned costumes on models. There were also ballet dancers in white (not too sure why) and also pole dancers throughout the venue. I like the use of the white tents, with the decor of O2 Park you feel more as if you are at an outdoor living space than a blank open area littered with tents.

The layout of Yeah! was pretty good. Inclusive patrons had the area at the bottom of the hill with food for sale on the perimeter and hyper inclusive was located above on the hill with a view of the entire area. There was a seating area for dining in the sunken area and deserts on the hillside. Ample tables,chairs throughout the Hyper Inclusive area and one main bar.

Both areas had access to the stage even though there was a fence separating Inclusive and Hyper Inclusive. 

Food

Hyper Inclusive offered sushi from More Vino, Beef and potatoes from Flair, Samosas, pork,chicken, ribs and a variety of other dishes from Mangoes as well as gourmet doubles, bake and shark and deserts.I personally had the sushi which was very good, other reports also commended the food from Flair as well. For the price I think what was offered was sufficient and apart from the sushi closing up shop too early, you could have had something to eat at any point in time during the night.

Drinks

The main bar served Johnny Walker Black and Single Barrell among other spirits, with an Ocean Spray Cocktail tents and sample stations of Nuvo and Hennessy. My only complaint was that the Nuvo sample station was located outside of the Hyper Inclusive area, so if I wanted a drink I had to go down the hill...and then back up. Plus the samples were not available all night, they also closed up shop early! I understand that the bar was done by Angostura and Brydens is responsible for Nuvo, but it would be nice to have Nuvo available all night if I wanted. 

Performances

Denise Belfon kicked off the live performances and sorry to say that I was very unfamiliar with all of her Carnival 2012 offerings, and guessing by the fact that she did not rouse the crowd I can say most people were hearing her songs for the first time.Of course everyone enjoyed Denise's older songs accompanied by her bicycle wine.

JW and Blaze got things moving a little bit, but it was Kes who really kicked things into gear. Yeah! was my first fete of the season, first time seeing all the performers live. I am liking Kes's 2012 repertoire, Coming Over, Precision Wine and Stress Away had the crowd moving.

Swappi is as entertaining as always, from the minute he steps on stage and you see what he is wearing. I am still trying to wrap my mind around Bucket being such a hit; my favourite Swappi song is Bubble on a D.J.

Machel Montano is in much better form than 2011, he is actually singing an entire verse and chorus without stopping for breath this year. He looks as though he has been working out and the performance is getting back to the standard of Machel in the 90s. The great thing about Machel is that he has so many songs, so many hits and so many favourites that he can perform a variety of old and new music; I think he gave a solid performance but I want to see something more next time I see him on stage, something was missing, maybe it is too early in the season or maybe I am not thinking Pump Your Flag for road march as yet.

Patrice Roberts has really come into her own as a performer, she can now hold court with the boys and command her stage. Good job.

Crowd Vibe

I don't know if it is too early in the season, but at first the crowd was very laid back., concentrating on eating and socializing than dancing. Eventually with the performances they started to move a little and those directly to the front of the stage were full of all the energy. From my spot in the sponsor area everyone there was having a ball throughout all the performances.

Eye Candy

The ladies were very well dressed for Yeah! and so too were most of the guys! Way more eye candy for the men than the women unless you were looking to pick up a "sugar daddy" as there were more older men in Hyper Inclusive than younger ones. Cannot vouch for Inclusive area as I did not venture there to scope out the prospects.

Extras

The makeup artist doing full makeup services was a surprise as I certainly did not expect to see that there! What was even more surprising was that people were actually taking advantage of getting their makeup done while the fete was in progress! 

Bathroom 

This is specifically for you ladies since we actually care about these things. The good thing about O2 Park is no porta potties! There are permanent bathroom areas and the one in Hyper Inclusive was very nice and CLEAN with air conditioning, lots of mirrors, stalls and fancy sinks.. so fancy my friend didn't know how to turn on the water! 

Overall Rating

For my first fete of the season I would give Yeah! a solid  7 out of 10. Nothing went wrong, everything ran smoothly, good food, variety of drinks, lots of performers but the level of energy and enthusiasm from the crowd was a bit lacking at times especially when I think back to Amnesia (the Island People event this has replaced) which used to be epic! 

Mas Jumbies UWI Students Offer

Receive TT$50 off all sections with vaild UWI ID.

All inclusive band. Downtown route

http://www.masjumbies.com/#!package

Call Marsha at 868-462-4402 and Stephen at 868-687-3228 Limited space available.

Flight Cruise 2012

click flyer to enlarge

Fete Update

Misty Ridge and Shades have both moved locations this year from Hololo Road, The Ranch to Country Club and Under the Trees Normandie respectively:

https://www.facebook.com/events/219270428151211/

https://www.facebook.com/events/267089693352512/

Beach House, carded for February 16, 2012  CONFIRMED the location at Seville Golf Club in Couva; the fete has not moved for Carnival 2012 and the price is $1000.00 TT.

There is a new event called C'est la Vie also on Carnival Thursday, February 16, 2012 . This is not a "break away" Beach House fete, the two core founding members of Beach House are still very much still together as Beach House. C'est la Vie is Matthew Dasent's event,  the name might sound familiar to some as he is formerly an associate of Beach House committee :

https://www.facebook.com/events/228008477277988/

Up the NEW Breakfast party that is NOT Sunny Side Up has announced Machel Montano performing at their fete:

Finally if you are looking for an All Inclusive Fete UNDER $600.00TT/$100.00US check out my  "Budget All Inclusives" for Carnival 2012 HERE.

Xotic Eyes Now Available in Trinidad

When I previously wrote about Xotic Eyes (do it yourself extreme makeup kits) the only way to purchase them was online. Now, Fashion My Dreams who primarily retails makeup from the popular US brand Coastal Scents are very excited to introduce Xotic eye kits as part of their store. Check them out on Facebook for more details : www.facebook.com/fashionmydreams

http://www.facebook.com/fashionmydreams

Yeah! We In Dat

I am looking forward to Island People's "Yeah!" this evening where Machel Montano will be performing his first full band performance for Carnival 2012. Loving the invitation package from Island People too!

If you cannot be there Triniscene will be streaming LIVE http://www.triniscene.com/tsv7/stream/ , check Facebook for details on when they go live.

Here is the newest Machel offerring to pump you up, "Pump Yuh Flag". Some people are already saying road march, I don't know know, what do you think?

Carnival Photography

https://www.facebook.com/pages/J-Mangalsingh-Photography-and-Digital-Art/128230727197521

NCC Wants Your Input

The National Carnival Commission is looking for responses to two surveys on their website:


http://www.ncctt.org/home/news/279-dimache-gras-survey.html

http://www.ncctt.org/home/news/281-ncc-carnival-route-survey.html

The first one has to do with the changes made to Dimanche Gras and the second one is looking for feedback on the parade route. As a masquerader, patron or just someone interested in Carnival lets all put our collective online voices to good use and take part in the surveys.Hopefully the powers that be will listen.

BeachHouse Carnival 2012

Beach House is definitely on my Fete List for Carnival 2012!

Jamborii Mas - Campus Carnival

JamboriiMas is a college based Carnival Production Company that represents the cumulative efforts of several students from various tertiary institutes. Our motto, "Always a celebration" conveys that we are dedicated to making every endeavour an enjoyable one, as we aim to provide a premium experience for all our masqueraders.

Our presentation for Campus Carnival 2012 is "Access Hollywood" which consists of four (4) sections fashioned to emulate four (4) of Hollywood's popular characters. It is an all-inclusive experience with affordably priced packages.

Female masqueraders can choose between Lara Croft and Marilyn Monroe, while their male counter parts can become James Bond or Jack Sparrow.

Photos of the 2012 presentation courtesy JBPhotography:Jamborii Mas Sections
Band Launch Photos- Jamborii Mas Access Hollywood

For more information:
Check out our blog: Jamborii Mas Lift Off
Visit: Jamborii Mas
Tweet us: JamboriiMas

Calling the Ultimate Feters to the Ultimate Experience XII at Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago

The Central Bank All Inclusive Fete has over the years become a staple on the Carnival all inclusive events list and on Saturday 4th February, 2012 from 5pm-1am, the Central Bank Sports & Cultural Club has promised patrons the Ultimate Experience! The new and improved layout which spans the plaza and spills onto St. Vincent Street will be amped up to create the Ultimate ambience. This year, the Ultimate performers, Machel Montano and Kes the Band take the big stage on St. Vincent Street. The reigning SOCA MONARCH and GROOVY SOCA MONARCH will ensure a truly euphoric musical experience with their 2012 hits. This is not the first time this dynamic duo have graced the stage of a Central Bank All Inclusive and this time around their performance is sure to cement the fete as the Ultimate All Inclusive event for 2012.

The culinary offerings are set to entice. The choice of dishes will be even more exotic. The Ultimate Experience will include a mouth-watering selection of main course meals, finger foods and desserts that simply say “Yum…Ultimate Food.” The premium bar, is now divided into selected ultimate bars including a main bar, cocktail bar, shot bar and the wine bar which will be strategically positioned throughout the fete, so whether you choose to stand close to the stage, stay in the dining area or lounge on the plaza, you will not be left thirsty.

The Ultimate Experience promises to be like no other, with luxurious décor and electrifying special effects to mark the occasion. The Central Bank Sports and Cultural Club has pulled out all the stops to make this the ultimate all inclusive event of the season.

To ensure the experience is truly ultimate, ticket prices remain at only $650.00 and will not be raised as Saturday February 4 2012 approaches. , the Ultimate Experience tickets can be bought at the Bank or from one of its ticket reps:

Esla Anthony – 682-6817

Tanya Forbes – 495-3780

Adanna Austin – 715-2214

Anderson Alexander – 678-7959

For more information, contact- 625-2601 ext. 2261 or 2712 or facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/CBSCCAllInclusive or follow on twitter #CBUltimate2012.