Sunday, November 30, 2008

Snowflakes on Steel 2009


Advanced tickets are:

$25 Matinee Show
$30 Evening Show

Leah Posluns Theatre
4588 Bathurst St, just North of Sheppard Ave

Wendy 416-286-7756
Earl 416-245-6411

Ticket Outlets ($1 service charge may apply)

A Different Booklist
746 Bathurst St.
Toronto, On
416.538. 0889

Caribbean Cuisine
145 Heritage Market Square, Unit 15
Brampton, On
905. 426.3352

Website: http://www.panartsnetwork.ca/

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Carnival Nationz 2009 Theme Launch & Appreciation Fete


Saturday December 13th, 2008
"CARNIVAL NATIONZ THEME LAUNCH"
@ The Hickory House - 440 McNicoll Ave
Music By: D Bandit and Kold Fusion
Adm: FREE for all 2008 Carnival Nationz Masqueraders
The appreciation and theme launch of Carnival Nationz

Email from D'Bandit......
So how do we appreciate our masqueraders? Well how about throwing a FREE fete for all of our masquerader of 2008 on Saturday December 13th. We'll be releasing the theme for 2009 and giving you inforamtion for the road...like what is our position in the parade and all kinda t'ing. Also see never footage and pics from Caribana 2008. Yuh never know yuh might just see yourself getting on BAD BAD BAD! We will also be giving away special Carnival Nationz Ts with the theme print. Music by D' Bandit and Kold Fusion. It all takes place inside Hickory House - 440 McNicoll Ave. Where is that you ask? How about 2 blocks west of the Mas Camp at Victoria Park and McNicoll Ave. So if yuh came to pick up yuh costume yuh well know where it is.

WEBSITE: http://www.dbandit.com

Downsview Park's Trail of Lights

Christmas time is here, time for love and time for cheer!!!

If you're looking for something to do to get into the Christmas Spirit, Downsview Park may just have the answer. From November 28, 2008 to December 31, 2008 you can experience Canada's largest walk-through holiday light show.



Dates: November 28th – December 31, 2008

Time: 5PM-10PM daily

Admission:
Sundays – Thursdays: $10 per person
Fridays & Saturdays: $12 per person
Holidays: $12 per person (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve)
Children 2 years of age and younger are free.

Group rates apply to groups of 20 people or more.
For more information, call 416-597-0965 or click here.

Check out the website for all the details:
http://www.pdp.ca/en/events/trailoflights.cfm

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Point Fortin R.C. wins!!

Congratulations to my old school.....YAY!!!

Article in today's Guardian:

Point Fortin RC takes National Primary Schools Parang title

Best female vocalist Kerisse Rawlins performs with her school Point Fortin RC.
Photo: Trevor Burnett


Best Female Vocalist Kerisse Rawlins leads her school, Point Fortin RC, to cop the National Primary Schools Parang competition on Saturday. The school scored 170 points.

Some 21 schools took part in the 30th edition of the competition held at the the auditorium at St Augustine Girls High School.

Second was Good Shepherd Anglican of Tunapuna with 161 points and San Juan Girls Government and last year champions Arima Boys RC tied in third position with 159-points.

Other placings
Dow Village Government 155 points
Sangre Grande RC 152 points
Brazil RC 148 points
St Joseph Girls RC and St Pius Boys RC 146 points
Sacred Heart Boys RC 145 points
Belmont Boys and Girls RC, Basse Terre RC and Carapo RC 144 points
Diego Martin Boys RC and Gran Couva RC 141. Dow Village Boys Group 137 points
Arima Girls RC and Flanagin Town RC 131 points
Malabar Government 91 points

Friday, November 21, 2008

Pon D Corner

Check out the first episode of TJJ TV's Pon D Corner hosted by a madman named Chris aka Jillionaire Juice........real Trini wildness!!!

Chris aka "Jillionaire Juice" talks about all the HOT & JUICY topics going on in Trinidad, the Caribbean and around the World each and every week. This one will be very STICKY!! A new Pon D Corner episode will be aired on TriniJungleJuice.com TV every Tuesday!

http://www.trinijunglejuice.com/tjjnews/articles/298/1/TJJ-TV-Pon-D-Corner-Episode-1-Season-One/Page1.html

Just because he's........SWANKY!!!

South Schools presents.....A Christmas Party

Thursday, November 20, 2008

SOCA WARRIORS


FOOTBALL FANS celebrate Trinidad and Tobago's 3-0 win over Cuba, in a World Cup qualifier, at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port-of-Spain Wednesday night.
Author: ROGER JACOB


YAY!!! Trinidad and Tobago has qualified for CONCACAF'S Final Round of the 2010 World Cup scheduled to begin on February 11, 2009.

CONGRATULATIONS
SOCA WARRIORS!!!

Tribal Knights Theme for 2009



The Tribal Knights website was recently updated with a sneak peek of their theme for Caribana 2009.......BIRDS OF PARADISE.

Can't wait to see all the pretty wings for this theme!!

In other Caribana band news:
Callaloo's 2009 Caribana theme is entitled " THE GANGES MEETS THE NILE"

AND

The Carnival Nationz Appreciation Fete and 2009 Caribana theme launch is set to take place next month........Saturday, December 13, 2008. Look out for more details coming soon!!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Parang in Toronto


Saturday November 29th, 2008
DR. JAY & Mom, alongside SOCA SWEETNESS & Mom proudly co-present....
THE BIG PEOPLE COMEDY & PARANG SHOW

@ The Armenian Community Centre (45 Hallcrown Place at Victoria Park & 401)
FEATURING THE BEST IN PARANG & CHRISTMAS SOCA:
LEON COLDERO - Trinidad's own performing hits such as "La Sapa", "Curry Christmas", "Ron", "Parangin' In Brooklyn"

alongside two of Toronto's top Parang bands:
LOS PAJAROS (featuring the "Toronto Scrunter")
LOS AMIGOS (featuring Connector)

FEATURING COMEDY TO MAKE YUH LAUGH TILL YUH BELLY BUSS BY:

TOMMY JOSEPH
(legendary Comedian from Trinidad)
JEAN PAUL
(Toronto via Trinidad)
JAY MARTIN (Toronto via Jamaica)

WITH MUSIC BY:
Dr Jay De Soca Prince, Soca Sweetness and Jay 'Stretch' McNeilly

For the VERY FIRST TIME, we are combining TWO SOLD OUT shows into ONE HUGE EVENT!
This would be the 5th Annual BIG PEOPLE PARANG SHOW & DANCE brought to you by DR. JAY and MOM,
and this would be the 3rd Annual COMEDY & PARANG SHOW brought to you by SOCA SWEETNESS and MOM;
so we combined the two to create one amazing event for the entire family to enjoy!
Plenty traditional Caribbean Christmas food will be on sale as well. So come join us on SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29th and get in touch with your culture at the BIG PEOPLE COMEDY & PARANG SHOW!
LIMITED $25 advanced tickets in outlets now.
TICKET OUTLETS
CENTRAL:
Play De Record - 416.586.0380
EAST END:
Dr. Jay - 416.245.6411 (ex. 2)
Soca Sweetness - 416.806.3383
Dianna - 905.428.3639
Kay Adams - 416.286.0667
WEST END:
Charlie's (Mississauga) - 905.896.3663
Drupati's (Etobicoke) - 416.745.4189
DOORS OPEN AT 6p. SHOWTIME 7p

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Soca Baby for and Fay-Ann and Bunji


Fay-Ann, Bunji expecting

By JOAN RAMPERSAD Saturday, November 15 2008

THERE is a soca baby on the way and due to arrive shortly after Carnival 2009.

Reigning Road March champion Fay-Ann Lyons-Alvarez is four-months pregnant and her baby is due sometime next April.

She and her husband, reigning International Soca Monarch Ian “Bunji Garlin” Alvarez are “happy, happy, happy” and totally “elated”.

The “baby bulge” was first noticed on Thursday night when Fay-Ann performed at a media appreciation function at the Zen Night Club, hosted by the Unit Trust Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago.

A proud Bunji told Newsday that Fay-Ann was having such a very good pregnancy that they intend to fulfill performing commitments for Carnival 2009. He added, however, that as she would be almost seven-months pregnant in February, she would only perform if she “felt comfortable” doing so.

Yesterday the couple left for New York to perform at a College function.

The couple has already released two tracks for Carnival 2009, Bunji’s “Banana” and Fay-Ann’s “Heavy T”, both on the Buss Top Rhythm, produced by Bunji and Darrel Braxton.

They intend to release their full Carnival album by year-end and according to Bunji, they are looking forward to the season. Fay-Ann’s father, Road March and Soca Monarch legend Superblue (Austin Lyons) is said to be very happy about the impending arrival of his grandchild. The couple wanted to start their family this month, but it happened earlier than planned. They got married on December 23, 2006.

http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,89899.html

Friday, November 14, 2008

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO OFFICIAL CARNIVAL 2009 EVENTS

Saturday February 7th, 2008
* Junior Calypso Monarch Semi-Finals - Strand Entertainment, Dundonald St, POS - (10am)

Sunday February 8th, 2008
* Pan Trinbago National Panorama Semi-Finals (Savannah Party) - Conventional Bands (Small/Medium/Large) - Queen's Park Savannah 9am

Monday February 9th, 2008
* Young Kings Calypso Monarch Final

Tuesday February 10th, 2008
* Northern Region Soca In Pan - Northern Greens, QPS (7pm)

Wednesday February 11th, 2008
* National Extempo & Limbo Prelims - Strand Entertainment, Dundonald St, POS (10am)

Thursday February 12th, 2008
* Downtown Carnival Launch - City Hall, Hart Street, Port-of-Spain, 5pm
* Kings & Queens Prelims - Northern Greens, QPS (8pm)

Friday February 13th, 2008
* International Soca Monarch Semi-Finals

Saturday February 14th, 2008
* Red Cross Kiddies Carnival - Port of Spain (11am-1pm)
* Single Pam Semis - Victoria Square, POS (6pm)
* Calypso "Fiesta" Monarch Semi Final - Skinner Park, San Fernando (12pm)

Sunday February 15th, 2008
* Junior Panorama National Finals @ Queen's park Savannah
* NCBA Junior Kings/Queens/ Individuals Prelims - Jean Pierre Complex (9am)
* St. James Junior Street Parade - Western Main Rd, St. James (1:30pm)

Monday February 16th, 2008
* Junior Panorama Finals - Northern Greens, QPS (9am)
* Junior Calypso Monarch Finals - Northern Greens, QPS (10am)
* Unattached Calypso Monarch Finals - Picadilly Greens, POS (7pm)

Tuesday February 17th, 2008
* Sr Kings Semi-Finals / Jr. Queens Finals - Northern Greens, QPS (8pm)

Wednesday February 18th, 2008
* South Central Zone Calypso Finals - Skinner Park, San Fernando (7pm)
* National Small Bands & National Single Pan Bands Finals (7pm)
* Senior Individuals/Traditional/Conventional Mas Competition - Northern Greens, QPS (8pm)

Thursday February 19th, 2008
* Pan Trinbago Panorama Finals (Small Orchestras) - Skinner Park (San Fernando)
* National Extempo & Limbo Finals - Jean Pierre Complex, POS (7pm)

Friday February 20th, 2008
* Canboulay Re-Enactment - Duke St (5am)
* Parade of Traditional Mas Characters - Downton Port-of-Spain (noon)
* International Soca Monarch Finals - Queens Park Oval, Woodbrook (7pm)
* Sr Queens Semi-Finals / Jr. Kings Finals - Northern Greens, QPS (8pm)

Saturday February 21st, 2008
* NCBA/Sunshine Snacks Junior Parade of the Bands - St. Vincent St to Queen's Park Savannah Judging Site (8am)
* Pan Trinbago National Panorama Finals (Large & Medium Conventional Bands) (5pm)

Sunday February 22nd, 2008
* Nostalgia (Traditional Parade) - Piccadilly Greens to Adam Smith Square (8am)
* Dimanche Gras (Kings & Queens of Carnival / Calypso Monarch Finals) - Northern Greens, QPS (7pm)

Monday February 23rd, 2008 (Carnival Monday)
* J'Ouvert - South Quay, Port of Spain (4am)
* Parade of the Bands - Streets of Port of Spain (11am-8pm)
* Pan on the Road - Victoria Square & Streets of Port-of-Spain
* Monday Night Mas - Victoria Square, Port of Spain

Tuesday February 24th, 2008 (Carnival Tuesday)
* Parade of the Bands - Judging points @ Adam Smith Square, Piccadilly on the Greens, Queen's Park South (11am-8pm)
* Pan Trinbago Pan on the Road - Victoria Square & Streets of Port-of-Spain
* Pan Trinbago Las' Lap - Western Main Rd, St James


http://www.toronto-lime.com/carnival/tnt_events.htm

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Poetry Corner......Derek Walcott for Barack Obama


Mr. Derek Walcott, 1992's Nobel Laureate for Literature, has penned a poem entitled Forty Acres to mark the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. The piece was exclusively written for The Times.


Out of the turmoil emerges one emblem, an engraving —
a young Negro at dawn in straw hat and overalls,
an emblem of impossible prophecy, a crowd
dividing like the furrow which a mule has ploughed,
parting for their president: a field of snow-flecked
cotton
forty acres wide, of crows with predictable omens
that the young ploughman ignores for his unforgotten
cotton-haired ancestors, while lined on one branch, is
a tense
court of bespectacled owls and, on the field's
receding rim —
a gesticulating scarecrow stamping with rage at him.
The small plough
continues on this lined page
beyond the moaning ground, the lynching tree, the tornado's
black vengeance,
and the young ploughman feels the change in his veins,
heart, muscles, tendons,
till the land lies open like a flag as dawn's sure
light streaks the field and furrows wait for the sower.

Monday, November 10, 2008

New events for Caribana 2009


New events for Caribana 2009
by Gerald V. Paul

At a special Scotiabank Caribana appreciation and awareness cocktail reception for sponsors and potential sponsors recently, three new events were unveiled for the 2009 festival: Caribana Lime, featuring the Miss Caribana Queen Pageant; VIP, Taste of the Caribbean with Chef Robert Rainford and Laugh and Lime Comedy. At the "Feel Good Vibe" event it was revealed that Scotiabank will retain sponsorship of the event in 2009, and that this year, some 600 Scotiabank staffers volunteered at the event. John Doig, Senior Vice President, Marketing said, "Scotiabank Caribana enriches our community by celebrating the amazing diversity of this wonderful city." Meanwhile, with Scotiabank Caribana showing a profit in excess of $100,000 according to a reliable source, a senior official with the Festival Management Committee (FMC) will be stepping aside due to other pressing engagements. Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer Eddison Doyle will demit office at the appropriate time.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

COTT Award Winners.....

WINER BOYS: The Mighty Sparrow and Machel Montano dance backstage after receiving their respective awards for International Achievement and Songwriter of the Year at the 2008 COTT Music Awards at Queen's Hall, St Ann's, on Thursday evening. -Photo: JERMAINE CRUICKSHANK

The tenth edition of the Copyright Organization of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) Awards was held this past Thursday and the winners are:

Groovy Soca of the Year - "Chipping" - Darryl "Farmer Nappy" Henry and Margaret "Ginga" Alexis.

Rapso of the Year - "Never Give Up" - Wendell Manwarren, Roger Roberts, Stanton Kewley and Sheldon "$hel $hoc" Benjamin.

Parang Soca of the Year - "The Sweetest Christmas Lime" - Jason Seecharan and Richard "Charsu" Ahong.

Pop/Rock Song of the Year - "Fallen" - Alan Tiah, Allan Reece and Bobby Afzal Ramdeen.

R&B/Hip-Hop of the Year - "What I Want" - Rohan "Fireball" Richards and Richard "Charsu" Ahong.

Chutney Soca of the Year - "Bring It" - Lalchan "Hunter" Babwah.

Reggae/Dancehall of the Year - "Who Do You Want" - Troydon "Blazer" Cruickshank and Ray Roopnarine.

New Female Songwriter of the Year - Augusta Louis

New Male Songwriter of the Year - Dwain Antrobus

Soca of the Year - "Get On" - Fayann Lyons.

Pioneer of the Year - Timothy "Baron" Watkins

International Achievement Award - Slinger "Sparrow" Francisco

The night's big surprise was a special performance by British reggae artiste Maxi Priest, who performed alongside Shurwayne Winchester and his new band YOU. Also performing were Destra, Baron, Jadee, Mungal Patasar who opened the show and Nadia Batson.

In his feature address, COTT president Lutalo "Brother Resistance" Masimba said the COTT Awards gala had outgrown Queen's Hall and must now search for a new venue that could accommodate its entire membership.

At the awards, Montano hinted at a name change for his HD band, which may soon be known as the Caribbean Planet. It was also revealed that Fireball's "What I Want" is currently the number one most downloaded song in the world.

Click here for the entire article in the T&T Express.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Soca Monarch 2009.....revolutionized

In today's Trinidad Guardian........
SEAN NERO
Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts (CPP) has outlined an aggressive plan to soundly place T&T’s soca music on the world map, but without the assistance of the State.

Using the popular International Soca Monarch and Groovy Monarch competitions which are already regional brands, producers of the contest have set themselves an ambitious task to revolutionise how the event known as “Fantastic Friday,” is packaged and broadcast.

It will cost not less than $14 million, up from last year’s $8 million, to produce the event which officials hope would transform soca music’s status of the world stage.
In return, CPP has projected income from the cultural exercise to be in the vicinity of $50 million.

There was no mention of the role the Trinbago Unified Calypso Organisation (Tuco) would play in this new frontier.

At the October 29 launch of the 2009 edition of the popular Soca Monarch contest, held at the Jaffa Ballroom at the Queen’s Park Oval, Woodbrook, Gregory Fernandez, president of the foundation, said the United States Superbowl, as well as the Miss Universe Pageant, would be used as models for what the International Soca Monarch Competition and Groovy Soca Monarch should evolve into.

“Through our media partner (the) Caribbean New Media Network, who have recently installed their own satellite up-link, we will be sending the broadcast to several countries throughout the world through various distribution partnership agreements,” he said.
Fernandez said: “So far, that figure is 31 and we hope to up that number by the time we get around to Carnival Friday.

“We also will be providing a full screen, high-definition, quality pay-per-view platform on the Internet. Last year, people from 129 countries viewed Soca Monarch for free.”
Fernandez, in his estimation, said the revenue impact on the local economy would be more than $100 million with a huge impact on Carnival and soca tourism.


Further to that, he believes that global exposure generated by the new format would also bring huge benefits for soca artistes who make it to the finals and the soca genre in general.
“Reggae is a US$10 billion industry worldwide. Who knows how far we can reach if we invest in soca,” said Fernandez.

Prizes galore
More than $3 million will be at stake in next year’s International Soca Monarch and Groovy Soca Monarch competitions.
And, the Power Monarch winner walks away with $1 million.
“If we accomplish our financial objectives in 2010, the winner of the Groovy will get $500,000 as first prize,” said Fernandez.

New judging system
Having a totally local panel of adjudicators for the two-prong contest would now be a thing of the past.

Fernandez announced that radical changes would also come to this aspect of the event.
“The judging panel will be restructured with five judges from the other Caribbean islands and three judges from Trinidad. The highest and lowest scores will be removed to minimise bias,” said Fernandez.

Time is money
In an effort to complete the production within the stipulated time frame, one band will be commissioned to provide musical accompaniment to all finalists.
Fernandez said: “Because we are presenting the competition to the world, we have a number of changes to the format of the competition. These include the one-band concept, with each artiste being allowed, at most, two musicians to work with the band. This will allow the competition to be concluded within the three-and one half hours, just right for the global viewing audience.”

New initiatives
Condensing the marathon show into a three-hour package for pay-per-view.
Power Monarch gets $1 million.
An international judging panel.
A celebrity commentary panel headed by Danny Glover.
One music band to accompany all contestants.
Regional Ministers of Culture to accompany their contestants on final night.
Generating an estimated $100 million for T&T Economy.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Byron Lee dies in hospital

Byron Lee dies in hospital

Posted: 2008-11-04 12:38:52 (The Jamaica Gleaner)
Calypso Musician Byron Lee has died in hospital after a long battle with cancer.

The leader of the world-famous band, Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires was hospitalised at the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies, after being flown home two weeks ago.

Lee, who was 73, had been fighting transitional cell cancer and was being treated in Miami Florida.

He was also diagnosed with bladder cancer two years ago.

Just last Sunday, he was conferred with the Order of Jamaica for outstanding service to the music industry in a special ceremony at the hospital.

Lee had been previously conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander in 2007.

Lee was born in Manchester on June 27, 1935 to parents Oscar Lee and Evelyn Chung-Lee.

He was educated at Mount St Joseph School in Mandeville, where he learnt music then later at St George’s College in Kingston.

He became bandleader of Byron lee and the Dragonaires in 1956, with the band’s first record being released in 1960.

He was the first person to promote live Jamaican music in North America and also introduced carnival to Jamaica.

Other awards Lee received include the Silver Musgrave medal for his contribution to music in 1978 and the institute of Jamaica centenary medal for the development of music in Jamaica in 1981.
________________________________________________

Monday, November 3, 2008

Are you tired of telemarketers?

As you may or may not know Canada now has a National Do No Call List. So if you're tired of receiving unwanted call from telemarketers you can register your phone number (residential or wireless) with the National DNCL. Keep in mind that those annoying calls won't stop immediately as telemarketers have up to 31 days to update their lists. You may still receive calls within those 31 days.

For more information on how to register your phone number visit the following site: http://www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Time Change


Don't forget to turn back your clocks tonight!! We get an extra hour of sleep.....SWEET!!

Why do we do this.....check out this article: http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2008/10/31/f-timechange.html

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2019 Toronto Carnival Band Directory

Hi readers, The mas bands have done their part… Band leaders have chosen their themes,  designers have worked tirelessly on thei...