OCEAN Style Magazine

www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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WAYS TO BE PERFECTLY NUDE

CATHERINE MALANDRINO From Romantic Paris to Sexed-Up NYC, She’s the Ultimate in Modern Femininity

MARIAH!

INSIDE THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION Will the Music Industry Survive?

ST. LUCIA’S STYLISH BALANCE

US$4.99 / UK£3.00

W: O N T H RIG T TO BE EA IT’S GR

CONTENTS

Volume 4, Issue 2

32 Beauty in the Nude 34 Fashion Stop: An Insider7s Look at Fashion Week 36 Calling All It-girls! Accessories Report 48 Spring Forward

FASHION + STYLE + BEAUTY

59

Malandrino: We talk to the 'designer to the stars'!

40 Woman of Influence: Wynelle Gregorio FEATURES

Reader, traveller, wife, and lover of life…a peek inside the world of CLICOAs Marketing Manager.

70 The Music Business in the New Millennium

ItAs the dawn of a new day in the world of music C will the Industry as we know it survive the digital revolution?

83 There7s Something About Yendi!

Miss Jamaica World shows us a thing or two about true beauty C from the inside out.

87 Beachside Fairytale

5,000 white Phaleonopsis orchids, a musical legend surprise guest, and two soul mates were just the beginning for TerriKaye James and Kimani Robinson s exquisite wedding.

90 Mariah!

Divalicious to the core, our cover girl isnAt on top of the world, sheAs on top of the universe. Mariah dishes about E=MC2 and Life as Mariah Carey C itAs definitely a sweet one.

Vivacious colours, enchanting style, and a whimsical journey through paradise.

59 Sketchbook: Catherine Malandrino

She dresses the stars and dazzles at Fashion Week. With a new to-die-for accessories line, a high-concept design retail space on Melrose Place., and a boutique in the biggest green building in the world, this Parisian-born designer is just getting started.

66 Fit for a Princess

Dreamy baubles for real-life Royalty, available at the newly launched Shoppes at Royal Hall. Think of it as shopping list material for 21st century foxes.

102 Pirate Tales

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Long ago, a deserted island held as much danger as beauty, and the high seas both savagery and passion. The enchanting Royal Plantation Island DFowl CayE serves as the ideal setting for a tale of intrigue and unspoiled beauty.

Mariah dishes on her new album and we go exclusively 'behind the scenes' on her vacation.

43

Ode to the Boob

HEALTH

46 AWUFI Gala: 4Light, Liberty, Learning5 64 Air Jamaica Jazz Festival 95 Carnival!- Trinidad and Tobago!

ON SPOT

115 Hyatt Trinidad 9 Five Star Comes to Port of Spain

In the heart of the action at The Greatest Show on Earth

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Dive into a triple dose of the greatest show on Earth!

ESCAPE (TRAVEL + LEISURE)

Curacao: 6Bon Probecho7 at Angelica7s Kitchen

98 St. Lucia7s Stylish Balance

Explore the multi-ethnic cuisine of this Caribbean Island

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Eco-friendly meets high living.

Royal Plantation Island (Fowl Cay) in the Bahamas is the setting for this dynamic Dagmara fashion story.

OCEAN LIVING

78 Edible Vibes 79 Cheers, Salud, A Votre Sante, Prost!

(FOOD + DRINKS + PLACES)

Meet celebrity chef Tony Abou-Ganim as he explores the Caribbean Dwith plenty of rum!E

PULSE

32 The Whole Shebang: Your Holistic Horoscope 44 Books: On Our List 57 OCEAN STYLE tests drives the Mercedes C-Class 62 Bloody Good Stuff! Jamaica Inn 74 Bloody Good Stuff: Absolut Disco

(SHOPPING + MUSIC + MOVIES + BOOKS + EVENTS)

ON THE REGULAR

CONTENTS

26 Editor7s Note 26 Letters to the Editor 28 Advertiser7s Contact Page 31 Contributors

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Douglas K. Gordon

douglas@oceanstylemagazine.com MANAGING EDITOR

Anna-Lisa Miller ASSOCIATE EDITOR

April Daniels Hussar

FASHION + LIFESTYLE (TEX T + PHOTOS) Jasmine Dotiwala – Editor-At-Large, Novia McDonald-Whyte – Editor-At-Large, Isabelle Tin-Aung – Beauty Editor, Robert Manella – Director of Photography C ONTRIBUTORS

Dagmara, Tracy Ferguson, Esther Nash, Rawle Francis, Anika Repole, Michelle Jones, Brenda Fine, Rosemary Parkinson, Marcia Erskine, Ric Matthews, Pixxera, Curtis Chase, Sharon McDonnell, Marvin Bartlett, Dexter Pottinger, Carlton Jones, Linda Harper kelly parris – Managing Editor (online)

ART + DESIGN + LAYOUT Frank Reneau – Art Director, Donnie Superville – Design Consultant, Daniel Smith – Website Management, Andrew Manswell – Webmaster, Craig Martin – design consultant, Quincy Ross – design consultant ADVERTISING SALES

VP Sales & Marketing - Brian Chin

& MARKETING Marketing & PR - Jodi Elliston

DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATIO N John Blassingame - SVP Distribution / john.blassingame@oceanstylemagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS

web: www.oceanstylemagazine.com/subscribe

e-mail: info@oceanstylemagazine.com

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

e-mail: editor@oceanstylemagazine.com mail: 1152 North University Drive, Suite 301-303, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024 fax: 305.395.5195 PUBLISHER

BLUE WOLF MEDIA, INC.

VP Finance & Operations - Stewart Jones / stewart.jones@oceanstylemagazine.com

No part of Ocean Style Magazine may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Blue Wolf Media, Inc. For additional reprint information, please contact us at info@oceanstylemagazine.com or fax us at 305-395-5195.

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DIVE IN AT oceanstylemagazine.com

FROM THE EDITOR

ake a ride through the pages of this issue and you will “get” why we continue to feel such passion and enthusiasm for putting this magazine together from one issue to the next! Truth be told sometimes it is a real exercise in restraint, coupled with the space demands of our publishing side that serve to keep our editorial ideas in check. I encourage you to take a gander through our pages and you will glean the essence of our publication….we strive to bring you a Caribbean that is sophisticated, beautiful, friendly, warm and yet relaxed. We serve to bring you a region, not merely a collection of individual “island” experiences. As our readership expands our mission is informed by the many sources of feedback we receive.

In this issue of Ocean Style join us as we traverse this wonderful region – replete with charming experiences and tremendous people. We take you to St. Lucia where they are working with a plan that if successful will see a balanced approach to tourism – one that allows for the economies of scale required by some of the large international investors yet supports the smaller, indigenous businesses that spring up around and in support of the tourism industry. A delightful and instructive approach to tourism. From St. Lucia we visit Trinidad for the sublime experience that is Carnival (aka “The Greatest Show on Earth”) then we head over to Jamaica for the annual Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival. This issue also takes us to Curacao, over to Tobago, back to Jamaica for a Robert Manella fashion shoot in captivating Ocho Rios before heading up to New York to hit the runways (and corridors) of New York Fashion Week and a one on one with designer to the stars Catherine Malandrino. I know I am starting to sound like the Table of Contents but it’s only to illustrate the point that we strive to keep our readers engaged and informed with relevant fashion and lifestyle content from within and from outside the region!

We are proud to feature Mrs. Nick Cannon (or is he Mr. Mariah Carey) on our cover for the first time. Our (uber-fab) Editor-at-Large Jasmine Dotiwala sat with the multi-platinum recording star in London and chatted about life (pre-NC) and her new album. We also get an exclusive look into Xmas and New Year’s with MC and her friends! Between the jets, the destinations, the exclusive villas and the choices available “on a whim” it is definitely “sparkalicious” (our new Ocean Style theme word) but exhausting (and that’s just reading along!).

After leaving MC in Puerto Rico we dash across the Caribbean Sea to the breathtaking locale that is Royal Plantation Island (Fowl Cay). Located in the Exhumas, Bahamas this is definitely on the list of “if an opportunity ever presents itself to go drop everything and go” destinations. A recent addition to his resort empire, this Butch Stewart-owned resort boasts six (6) luxury villas on a 53 acre island. Who better to capture the dramatics of the environment through fashion than our own Dagmara – who again with her talented team of artisans mesmerizes to produce imagery of the highest international standards.

There is just so much more on which I can elaborate but alas my space is limited plus you don’t need me to tell you – check it out for yourself! We welcome to our editorial team April Daniels Hussar who joins us to oversee our editorial and help to assemble, plan and publish the wealth of ideas, manage the abounding talent of our contributors and help us in our mission to simply excel as a magazine editorially in both print and digital formats. We are also excited to launch Splash! our new free monthly e-newsletter – subscribe today at oceanstylemagazine.com – which will be out this May. Thank you for all those people who email me with story ideas and feedback on the magazine – believe me we read it all and appreciate it sincerely!

Folks, turn the pages and I say ‘Welcome to fashion and lifestyle with a Caribbean essence…..welcome to Ocean Style!’

T

Warmest, Douglas

LETTETORTHSE EDITOR Yannick Noah Fan I was a massive Yannick Noah fan back in the 1980s and it was with great interest that I realized that beautiful woman on the cover was his daughter. She is indeed a beautiful girl – both from the great photos to her most interesting interview.

Simone New York City, NY

Inspired and Im press ed Thank you for that piece on Michelle Rollins. What an enlightening story highlighting the long road to success. While I knew that the Rollins family owned a lot of land I was completely unaware of the pivotal role they played in the development of the Rose Hall area. Ms. Rollins has demonstrated admirable qualities of wife, mother and businesswoman. She is an example to us all of how to successfully balance family and business while remaining a mother and helping those less fortunate.

C a r la Montego Bay, Jamaica

Relaxed and Rejuvenated We recently returned from a marvelous family vacation at Half Moon in Jamaica. I first learned of the hotel from a photo shoot in your magazine last year. When we were looking for somewhere new to vacation this year I remembered that photo shoot and we decided to give it a try. I am extremely happy to report that it was an even better experience than I had hoped.

We stayed in one of the villas and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from the horseback riding to playing with the dolphins.

The kids enjoyed themselves and we had a great time!

Meredi th Port of Spain, Trinidad

DESTINATIONS Tobago House of Assembly – Tobago, visittobago.gov.tt Tourism Development Company – T&T, visitTNT.com Barbados Tourism Authority – visitbarbados.org AIR, HOTELS & SPAS Air Jamaica, airjamaica.com British Airways, ba.com Half Moon Blue Hotel, halfmoonblue.com Sandals Resorts, sandals.com Jamaica Pegasus, jamaicapegasus.com Tradewinds Hotel, tradewindshotel.net Half Moon, halfmoon.com BANKING, FINANCE & INSURANCE CLICO, clico.com First Citizens Bank, simplyfirst.net VISA, visa.com AUTOMOTIVE & RENTAL CARS Mercedes Benz (Sterling Motors), sterlingservicett.com Honda - ATL Motors, atlmotors.com.jm Toyota (Jamaica) Limited, toyotajamaica.com FASHION & PERSONAL CARE Movado, theroyalshop.com Dior (Runway) Hublot, theroyalshop.com Revlon, revlon.com HCL Premier Malls, hcltt.com MEDIA Jamaica Observer, jamaicaobserver.com SportsMax, sportsmax.tv OTHER PRODUCTS & SERVICES Supreme Ventures Limited, supremeventures.com Antilla, Inc. Artech, artechmiami.com Caribbean Fashion Week (Pulse), caribbeanfashionweek.com Keyland Real Estate, keyland@colis.com PAS Cargo USA, (305) 994-7232, pasl.co.tt Vibes Cuisine, recipes@vibescuisine.com La Rive - Woodguill Development Company, woodguill.com The Palmyra, thepalmyra.com Westshore Medical, westshoremarketing@tstt.net.tt To advertise e-mail ads@oceanstylemagazine.com or call 305-921-9052

US$25 for 6 ISSUES

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! call 868.694.2243

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ADVERTISER’S CONTACT PAGE

CONTRIBUTORS Esther Nash

Jasmine Dotiwalla

As head of MTV BASE- MTV’s global hip-hop lifestyle channel, Jasmine concentrates on giving everyone from Jay Z and 50 Cent to Mariah and Eminem the ‘Jasmine treatment’ for her interviews and MTV branded shows 'Making The Video', 'Diary of…' and 'Cribs'. Jasmine writes a weekly column in the UK’s number 1 selling ethnic newspaper The Voice as well as a monthly column in Ocean Style, the Caribbean’s biggest fashion and culture glossy magazine. Jasmine regularly appears on music industry panels and at community events. She is also an active member of the MTV Europe Diversity Council and is involved in a number of charities including the African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust.

Esther Nash, a New York based fashion designer, model, socialite & fashion expert, is the epitome of a chick on a quest. The fashion world's former prodigy is all grown up. At the age of 18, Esther owned and operated her first retail store. She had her own runway shows by 21. With a good family background, Esther is a 3rd generation New Yorker and a graduate of the most prestigious, accredited Art and Fashion school of NYC. Ms. Nash's fashions have been featured on Sex and the City. Her last runway show (she has had over 2 dozen) was notably attended

by Vogue's Editor in Chief Anna Wintour. Esther's next goal is to acquire a position as a fashion host of her own TV/cable show. Keep your ears and eyes open, as you will be seeing a lot more of Esther Nash!

Robert Manella

New York based Robert Manella has been a professional photographer for more than 20 years. While studying as Art Major in London, Robert picked up the camera and hasn't stopped shooting since. A regular contributor to Ocean Style and our Director of Photography, Robert has a vast knowledge and passion for photography. Talented across many different genres lifestyle, beauty, fashion, stock or architecture.

To Advertise in Ocean Style Magazine Please contact us at: douglas@oceanstylemagazine.com or

305.921.9052

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PERFECT SHADE OF

Volume Boost Lipcolour in Pose, Rimmel London Light and fun, this color easily enhances a neutral, warm appearance. If it’s good enough for Kate Moss…ulta.com, $3.99.

Clarins Gloss Appeal in Ginger For a a transparent, shiny and fuller look to the lips. clarins.com, $19.

1000 Kisses Stay On Lip Liner Pencil in Tiramisu 050

by Rimmel London Trade secret (shhh): Makeup artists like to line lips with a nude liner like this one and then fill the lips with a transparent gloss. Perfection! ulta.com, $3.09.

WANT TO PULL OFF THOSE ‘BARELY THERE’ BUT GORGEOUS LIPS? HERE ARE A FEW PRODUCTS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE THE LOOK

Balmshell Wildnerness Girl Lipgloss These new glosses with the funky packaging give your smile an effervescent boost. So much fun to whip out of your clutch too. sephora.com, $22.

Dior Addict Lipgloss in Maniac Beige With a subtle hint of glitter, this sexy lip treat dazzle your whole looks for any evening event.

Very addictive. saks.com, $24.50.

Lustreglass in Instant Gold by MAC MAC's new lip glass stays true to its name - lips shine with a pearly, neutral finish. maccosmetics.com, $14.

KissKiss Envie de Beige

by Guerlain This quiet shade of rose beige perfectly complements that healthy daytime glow. bloomingdales.com, $27

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FASHION !

P O T S Fashionista + socialite Esther Nash provides an insider’s tour of NYC’s Fashion Week Fall ’08

he Mercedes Benz Shows at the tents at Bryant Park: Fashionistas flew in from all over by private jet and helicopter; they arrived by chauffeured limo and armored vehicles in order to see and be seen.

T he c rowd: glamorous society members of the privileged class (such as moi) – socialites, debutantes, celebrities and the strictly selected buyers and elite press members.

Security was tighter than ever to protect the Invited from the stampeding masses constantly repelled from the entrance. I was grateful for the security – especially since jeweler Ju di tha Ri pka dressed me in half a million dollars of diamonds for each show. The dazzle really made me dizzy and I now know diamonds are a girl’s best friend. So sad when the week was over and I had to say adios to the fall 2008 bling!

As a veteran front row fashion show attendee, I am divulging the inside report on Fall 2008 styles just for you, the well-read fashionable few: T he Scoop: Fall 2008 is a collection for the wealthy and super wealthy. It’s all about waste on waste – plenty of luxury fabrics and embellishment. Hollywood Red Carpet Glam. Lots of bright colors, boleros, capes, and thigh high leg wear – from stockings, to boots.

Red Dre ss Coll ecti on: Women’s Heart Health Awareness! Barbara Bush and Lauren Bush hosted along with Liza Minnelli who serenaded “New York, New York!” Ladies, time to start exercising and eating well on a regular basis!

Sponsors: La Colombe and Lycra: Lycra served hot beverages in the Bra-sserie Cafe, where sippers could see the latest in lingerie with lycra support to enhance and defy gravity, while munching on delectable croissants served by three ladies wearing berets. eBay Suite: Guests enjoyed the high-end designer display, mingled with eBay style director Constance White, and got the scoop on scoring steals online.

Show s - Moni qu e Lhu i ll ier : Adorned gowns, metallic fabrics, oversized coats with fur collars, sleek sharp detail. Feathers and old Hollywood glam on the runway. Colors were yellow, charcoal, gray, olive green and rust. Super exaggerated ruffles, blue velvet jackets and pleated skirts.

T

Venexiana: Sophisticated, classic, timeless. Swarovski detail. Assorted furs and snake skin. Bows were a must in this collection. The crowd gave designer Kati Stern a standing ovation.

Temperl y London: Military influenced, with mock police hats, military jackets, with thigh high leather boots. Combat sexy.

Bill Bl as s: A graduate of F.I.T., his line was detailed and flawless.

Of course having dressed Cher, he is one of the best.

Herve Leger by Max Azria: Silky, slinky, form-fitted mini-dresses in purples and grays that don’t leave much to the imagination.

Betsey Johnson: 70’s, 80’s inspired looks that were so young and fun the models looked younger and younger. It was Betsey’s 30th birthday in fashion. So the show was extra special, it felt like a circus/NewYear’s Eve party. Lots of colorful, Candyland fringed jackets, embossed cat suits, and vibrant blouses with pleats, animal prints and loud geometric patterns.

Carl os Mi ele: Extremely shapely patterns, lots of curves. Cocktail dresses and glamorous gowns with attitude. Cropped, over-sized turtlenecks and bulky cape/sweater combos, boleros and suits. Colors were red, olive green and brown.

Ti bi : Chic and timeless refinement; tailored, form fitting highpowered suits. Cowl neck blouses are a must. Tweeds and plaids; cropped capes and fitted coats – very bold and colorful.

Malan Breton: Known for his soft tailored separates and intricate fabric techniques that result in a very feminine feel. Please be sure to watch Full Frontal Fashion next season because he asked and I accepted. Yes, I will be walking the runway in Malan Breton Spring 2009!

Akiko Ogawa: Chunky scarves you could lose yourself in. Oversized caps and berets in heavy knitted wool. Ribbed peasant dresses, super minis in rich textured fabrics with peacock feathers and Swarovski crystals for a very sexy Scottish feel.

La co st e: The runway was transformed into a ski resort paradise, including faux snow flurries lining catwalk. Young, fresh and sporty. Super striped oversized scarves; black, green, red, gold and leg warmers over thigh high socks over opaque stockings in complimentary shades of pastel, complete with matching earmuffs and mittens.

BCBG Ma x Azr ia : Modern femininity with super confidence.

Shades of neutral, warm tones. Cocktail dresses and skirts with cinched waists. Strapless youthful dresses to the thigh, with belts tied at the waist. No jewelry necessary. Luxurious Boleros and capes.

R eem Acr a: The collection represented a global sense of belonging. The red carpets of Hollywood will line up for this designer.

Pure extravagance – designs were like sculptures come to life on the runway.

Ports 1961: European fabrics, signature prints. Think: storybook, romantic Scottish village. Indigo blue, Kelly green, rust, orange and vibrant red. Cinched waists added a feminine allure. Tailored jackets.

Fantasy meets reality.

P rojec t Ru way: A very exciting show. All the designers were winners in my book. I wish them the best of luck. The attendees were all celebs and TV personalities as well as past Project Runway contestants.

Zang Zoi: With PETA demonstrating outside against the use of fur, it was a madhouse inside and outside the tents. The collection was grand and truly for the jet set. Peacock feathers, sable trimmed lapels, and formal gowns.

R ubi n Si nger : Very romantic, ultra feminine. Suede, leather, bright oranges and metallic colors.

Vi vienne Tam: The ultimate in luxe lifestyle with a feel of carelessness — a statement in itself. Tousled upsweep hairstyles and bucket hats. Uptown girls in downtown clothes.

Twinkle: Cute, down to earth sporty looks, long flowing skirts filled with unusual patterns and geometric shapes. Brooches and fitted jackets & coats. The feel was eccentric and worldly.

Pamel a Rowland: Very Diva, very Glam. Baroque sequined satin boleros, tailored ivory gold brocades, taffeta and crystal rhinestone rainbow beads. Suits with fur collars and cuffs, strapless jeweled gowns.

Wrap Up: Looking forward to reporting to you on Spring 2009.

In the meantime keep posted, same place, same fashion challenge just a different season. Bisou Bisou!

www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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So global and hip, we can picture Indiana Jones launching crusades across desserts to score one.

OCEAN STYLE

imply and intuitively, Ali son Antrobu s has designed and constructed a revolutionary bag to subdue every woman’s nightmare—the endless search into the abyss of her handbag.

S

Silk Crystal Necklace by Johanne Mills $558, Kabiri.co.uk

Think white rims read tacky?

Look again. Bulgari’s latest crystal flower accented shades turn heads…And there’s nothing tacky about that.

Bulgari Signature fl flo oral sunglasses $400, Bulgari.com

Linked, colorful circles held together on a thick golden chain look frivolously fabulous against a simple, white boat neck tee.

Ping Pong necklace by Erickson Beamon $835, net-a-porter.com

E IES T HO R T S S E R C O C P A RE

An ocean of feminine. Leather ruffles and sleek gold studs lined down the front make this a staple in my closet. It’s fun just looking at it!

Convertible Antrobus bag $1,250 (on sale at press time for $875), vivre.com

Be & D beige Can Can Portfolio $790, Saks Fifth Avenue

White-hot ceramic tiles soften and update the diamond-framed, classic art deco design.

Whirling dervishes and fairytale-like minarets adorn Sevan Bicakci’s unusual, extra-chunky cocktail rings; some so big and eye-catching they seem more like jeweled sculptures than wearable fashion.

Michele White Ceramic Art Deco watch $2,450, Neiman Marcus

Sevan Bicakci Rings Prices available upon request, Barneys New York

Afraid of snakes? Fear not!

Be & D puts a gold lock on theirs in this new “vintage” python bag.

Non-jet-setters need not apply.

Be & D python Voyager bag $2,200, Saks Fifth Avenue

Yes, they’re back, and wedges have gone wildly ornate this season. We’re crazy for the tiger’s eye tiles on chocolate strappy.

Muse Tuse wedges by Sergio Rossi $600, sergiorossi.com

THEBONUS BAGS!

We’re loving the high gloss on this trend-friendly, green apple bag — it’s playful but still grown up.

Olive Patent bag / Pauric Sweeney $1,200, net-a-porter.com

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OCEAN STYLE

hat do astrology, surfing, and The Second Law of Thermodynamics have in common?

STL proves everything not in equilibrium tends toward entropy. Astrology gives us a glimpse into the probable future, and, like surfing, lends us the balance we need to ride the waves of experience (vs. crashing in the undertow). Right now, planetary configurations tell us we better learn to surf, swim and scuba-dive because the Wheel of Life is spinning at an alarming pace.

W A HOLISTIC HOROSCOPE Patty French

ARIES / March 21 to April 19 “Bring it ON!” is your motto. You're ready for anything, with the wild abandon of the family dog taken for a run on the beach. But even you must flop down on the sand once in awhile, and then you might see that in your headlong flight, you've left all others behind. Ironically, your desire to fly through the air is surpassed only by your desire for relationship; in your mind that implies tied down. Your task is to find equilibrium through True Intimacy. Stop leaping for five minutes look closely at that special someone. Don't automatically assume it’s a leash in their hand - it just might be a ball they'd love to take to the beach with you.

TAURUS / April 20 to May 20 The Bull was revered in Minoan Crete as both the power of fertility and the earthquake. Taureans refuse to give a passing nod to this ancient understanding that all birth is followed by death. Who can blame you? You are the rapturous lover, wandering lost in the sights and scents of a wildly blossoming garden. You can’t conceive of a notion so anathema as Winter. Find your equilibrium by admitting there is an End to All Things. Acquiesce to this certainty as elegantly as you do everything else.

Life springs eternal, no matter if the garden is covered by apple blossom or snow.

GEMINI / May 21 to June 21 You are the electron that appears on another ring of the nucleus, without traveling through time and space to do so. It took quantum physics to find your secret habitat, the mysterious electron cloud of possibility. But there is more to you than wings on your feet. Mercury, messenger of the gods, doesn’t just drop hastily written post-it notes on our heads. He holds a caduceus, the symbol for medicine and healing. Grant us mere mortals the boon of rendering one of your brilliant ideas useful to us. You won’t be punished like Prometheus for giving humans fire. You’re too quick to be seen, let alone caught!

CANCER / June 22 to July 22 Joni Mitchell’s beautiful song, “Little Green,” is about naming a newborn child. Green would be a fitting name for any Cancer; its the color of chlorophyll, and like Eve, could be considered “The Mother of All Living Things.”

A molecule of chlorophyll is amazingly similar to that of hemoglobin. You must be careful not to overdo your nurturing and deplete your own blood supply. Cultivate the art of allow-

ing others to care for you. Only in this way can you fulfill your task of being our gracious “Tree of Life.”

LEO / July 23 to August 21 A Leo friend of mine’s first words were “Could you please tell the waiter to come over here?”

All you Leos have royal blood; we love to tease you for such theatrical flairs. But we also appreciate the deeper role of kings and queens.

You are the fierce protectors; anyone who seeks to harm us will contend with your mighty roar. There is a danger though, of you becoming too enamored of center-stage. Find your equilibrium by remembering that every living being is the center of the cosmos.

VIRGO / August 23 to September 22 “Resplendent” is the name of a.) a species of angelfish b.) a tropical bird c.) the hotel in a Lord Peter Wimsey mystery. If you answered yes to all three, your (resplendent) Virgo-ness precedes you. “Category” is your favorite word, but it’s impossible to keep life sorted in alphabetical order. Contemplate the wondrous effects that result from mixing ingredients. “Deeply complex, with notes of dried fig and tawny port” might describe wine, coffee, even chocolate. Let your imagination mull over what you might like to concoct in your own life right now.

meaning Mother, signifying not just the labor of transformation, but also the joy.

SAGITTARIUS / November 22 to December 21 Symbolized by the archer shooting arrows into the cosmos, and the fun in retrieving them. But your delight in discovery easily turns to melancholy if you feel held back. Romps aside, you must be willing to delve into what is right in front of you. Sometimes the Wheel of Destiny insists on you realizing something before it allows another spin; its favorite refrain is that line from T.S. Eliot “… the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

CAPRICORN / December 22 to January 19 In California it rains not a drop for nine months, igniting wildfires across half the state, then pours non-stop, producing floods and mudslides. Your inventive mind would heartily disapprove of such a flawed arrangement and set about immediately to devise something more sensible. But sometimes the “bugs” in the system are simply not fixable, even by you.

Some things can be wrangled to the ground, by golly, and improved, and others just need to be invited in for a drink.

LIBRA / September 23 to October 22 Venus, the goddess of beauty and love, enjoys nothing so much as her favorite celebration, a wedding Alas, it never occurs to you to wonder what happens after the feast. The hard work of relationship is described by the story of “The Skeleton Woman.” A fisherman rescues a beautiful maiden only to find a monstrous heap of bones, but she is restored to life when his tears of compassion fall on her. Employ your fine sensibilities in the service of creating more love, not just celebrating it.

AQUARIUS / January 20 to February 18 Homeopathic medicine works on the principal of entrainment: if the conditions are right, one vibration influences another. A substance is entrained with water, then the solution diluted so greatly that the water is left with not a single molecule of the original substance.

You Aquarians are right at home with this amazing practical application of the unified field theory. But like all global thinkers, you must always find a way to see each situation and person as more than an impersonal archetype. It’s true, everything reduces down to energy, but even the smallest particle in existence has its own signature vibration.

SCORPIO / October 23 to November 21 Everyone is familiar with Tarot Card 13, Death, and its scythe-swinging skeleton. As usual, the surface meaning is contrary to its deeper one: the scythe is inverted, symbolizing the transformation of death into life. Scorpios go through at least one “Phoenix Rising from the Ashes” before breakfast, so this concept is old hat to you. But your focus tends to be only on the grim fact of survival, rather than the pleasure of something new. Remember this card is also symbolized by the Greek letter MEM,

PISCES / February 19 to March 20 You Pisceans live in the realm of imagination, as sensitive to others’ as to your own. Your task is to continually collect yourself so that you know how you feel. You’re more comfortable in the past or future than the present, in dreams than reality. But if you just get your toe into the water of Now, you’ll see you don’t need to surf after all. Those waves are a mirage, and there’s a floatie with a drink waiting for you, on the serene surface of a beautiful (and not too deep) swimming pool.

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WYNELLE GREGORIO WOMAN OF INFLUENCE

ynell Gregorio, Marketing Manager for CLICO Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited, describes herself in a nutshell: “Lover of life, effervescent, compassionate, focused.” From her office at the company’s headquarters in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, she has the monumental responsibility of steering the marketing efforts of CLICO: the Caribbean’s largest insurance company and the core enterprise of entrepreneur Lawrence Duprey’s tremendous Caribbean expansion.

She’s been married for two years to a fellow marketer, a man she describes as a kindred spirit, Ramon Ricardo Gregorio. Though the two had been on the periphery of each other’s lives for years, Wynell says “the fire caught at good old UWI [University of the West Indies].“ The Gregorios have no children yet, however, with two such demanding careers, balancing work and family life is still a challenge.

“It’s my elusive goal,” say Gregorio. “Only recently I’ve made a strong decision to have some more balance, especially for family and health.”

After receiving her undergraduate degree in PR from the University of West Indies, Wynell secured a Masters in Communications from the London Metropolitan University. She got her start in insurance by, essentially, seizing the day: “There was an opportunity and I grasped it with absolutely no regrets.”

She travels quite a bit for both work and pleasure. Vacations find her throughout the Caribbean – Antigua being her favorite island: “I love the quaint feeling of the town…Colonial remnants mixed with tourist flair.” – the US, the UK, and Europe.

“My best experience though would be Barcelona, Spain,” says Wynell. “I could walk up and down [the main street] La Rambla over and over, taking in the sights and sounds. I love the spirit of the Spanish people; I think they have quite a Trini vibe about them.”

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WYNELL A T WORK

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Describe your typical day at CLICO Someone described it aptly as “there’s never a dull moment.” You’re always trying to understand where the time went in the day. My typical day starts at 6am and I actually get most of my (mentally demanding) work done between then and 9am when the office is fully populated. A great portion of the day involves working with the regional CLICO territories, and as a Marketer it’s very exciting to understand the nuances of different cultures and languages…

What’s your ideal way to have some “me” time?

My head in a great novel almost in trance… totally locking out all the noise of everyday life…letting myself really get immersed in the characters in the story. Right now I’m reading Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

What are the greatest c hallenges you face in your role at CLICO? I would say time. CLICO is such a vibrant and dynamic company that there are just so many projects, all exciting at the same time. The challenge is to always stay ahead of the wave. Keeps me on my toes.

What’s your favorite store?

Ann Taylor, just because I always get something that I like, that fits well.

What gives you the most satisfaction?

Seeing a project come to fruition from a tiny idea that once seemed so elusive.

What would you like to be remembered most for, your legacy?

My contribution to my field – Marketing and Communications – both professionally and academically (I‘ve been lecturing the Communications programme at UWI).

Who has been your most important role model/infl flu uence?

My parents. They taught me about humility, love for life and people. These lessons are precious and timeless.

How often do you go shopping?

Every weekend, whether it is to get items for the house like groceries or indulge in my shoe fetish.

What’s your most recent purchase?

A very lovely yet practical brown pair of (work) shoes from Naturalizer. I‘m that kind of female – functional when it comes to clothing. I know myself and I must be comfortable. I’m a realist I don’t like very high heels so I always try to get pumps, sandals. I’m also known to have quite a few brightly colored sneakers.

Tell us three things you always have in your pocketbook.

Medicine bag (I’ve been described as a walking pharmacy…guess the girl guide in me never left), my cell phone which is almost permanently attached to my ear (a Marketer never has a quiet moment) and a small notebook for ideas that come when you least expect it.

Hope I didn’t disappoint the image purists, but I did say, I’m functional.

“ODE TO THE...BOOB” Anika Repole

f you had not read the title of this article, and I asked you to regress a bit and sing the alphabet, chances are the last thing on your mind would be your cup size. However if I asked you to sing the alphabet now, it’s possible that you would not be able to keep a straight face, and start snickering by the time you got to the letter/cup “J.” As entertaining as it would be to elaborate on the possible psychology of your cup size, and what it means to yourself, your esteem, your society and the rest of the world regarding how well your bra fits, sorry to say this article has little to do with your breasts, but instead has everything to do with your femininity.

Ask yourself how you felt the day of your first period. What feelings did you have? Were there any fears? Ask yourself about your ability and choice to have children; about your possible or past emotions the day of your daughter’s first period. Ask yourself about your feelings of menopause, about breast cancer, about the possible loss of a breast.

Though we may not see (perhaps blinded by the demands of the patriarchal society in which we live), these questions delve far into our understanding and appreciation of our femininity.

Please note the following disclaimer: I am not a feminist! I am simply a woman who has come to realize that my fellow women far too often, though with a level of appreciation, have come to select aspects of their “Feminine” which they choose to accept or not, at times even fighting it, and not supporting the collective of females.

Now ask yourself about how difficult your struggle has been in the working world, about the choices you have made, or were forced to make, because you are a woman. Ask yourself about discrimination, but also recognize how you too have discriminated against and judged your female colleagues. In all HONESTY, were your choices based on their characters only, or were they somewhat influenced by their “feminine”? Why do we fight ourselves and each other so?

Some would argue that men are to blame. So quick are we to call them out; telling them and believing that they are “dogs”; charging them with the offences of hurt, oppression and discrimination. Why are we not capable of seeing that this vicious cycle of prejudice begins and ends with us?

In days gone by, the idea of a patriarchal society was myth. Powerful goddesses reigned supreme with the recognition of the equally powerful and divine masculine. A respected balance existed between the sexes, the realism of symbiosis, the acceptance that there is no Yin without Yang. Women gathered together in reverence to celebrate their femininity and the Divine Feminine; they supported each other; they taught and uplifted each other, never bitching! (I choose my words very wisely) The notion of female on female oppression is a new phenomenon, and most men will easily point out that this is our “weakness” as women: being “fickle” and holding each other down. No matter what the circumstances, a man is more than capable of respecting a woman, once she has respect for herself.

“Ode to the Boob” is a proclamation of self-acceptance for any woman, realizing that in being women we have no weaknesses, only the devices we hold against each other and ourselves. Embracing that which makes us female does not make us weak; it instead reconnects us to our past celebration of the woman.

Argue all you damn well please: “But men are this, but men are that, look at what they have done to us…” BLAH BLAH BLEEP BLAH BLAH! Don’t get me upset! What have we done to ourselves? Granted

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we have struggled, and it has taken us a hell of a long time to regain some amount of respect, but what have we done to that respect?!

Unleash our fury of frustration on men, claiming the brilliance of having control over them with the way we dress, with what we do. Let me tell you a secret… do not take them for fools, as they see right through it, and rightly so. If we continue to give them the ammunition, why not use it? We use it against ourselves anyway, right?!

I am venting, because I am tired of how we treat each other and ourselves. I am nauseated by thoughts of hurtful former friends who used their feminine wiles to stab me in the back. I am aggravated by women in high-powered positions, who feel that the world owes them something, and who assimilate the “male characteristic” of assertion and turn it into manipulation and aggression in the work place.

I know you can identify for two reasons. Firstly because you have continued to read my rant, and secondly because I know that though we may choose not to admit it to ourselves at times, we realize the truth.

Looking at the grand scheme of things, we have come a long way, and it has taken us lifetimes and generations to get to where we are: “earning” the right to vote, and look, now we have a woman running for President of the United States (I am NOT a Hillary supporter, my choice, thank you!). Everything from the burning of bras to the legislation put in place to protect us women is enough evidence of our journey. However, to what extent are we protecting each other?

I ask these questions because it has taken me some time to come to these conclusions, having been wrapped up in my own delusions. I am not at all negating the struggles we have faced and are still facing.

Instead I am suggesting that the biggest struggle that we need to recognize is with ourselves.

The feminine Moon rules the tides, and maintains the speed at which Mother Earth herself rotates, controlling life in the sea and thus on land. Yet the Moon provides no light without the masculine Sun (getting deep here, can you handle it?).

Juno, Roman patron goddess, AKA Hera to the Greeks, was believed to watch and protect all women from their first breath to their last. Freyja, Norse goddess of creativity, love, and beauty, was worshipped to foster the ability to discriminate between aggression and passivity, and the ability to use them appropriately. Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom and enlightenment, was without equal in the skill of battle and protected all those in need of defense.

Oya, Yoruba goddess of the Niger River, was praised for her leadership and strength. Kuan Yin, most beloved goddess of ancient China, was recognized for her compassion, vowing never to leave the earth to her celestial amusement until all humans were free of pain.

Whether you choose to appreciate these whimsical stories or not, open your mind a bit to realize that these stories are simply of women. Women who in their “divinity” had honor and respect and were praised for it by women, and yes, by men too! These stories are of the Feminine, all that makes us female, and creates the balance for life, just as the sun and moon coexist to sustain life.

“Ode to the Boob” is an Ode to you; a type of self-praise, to realize that to be feminine is innate and necessary for life. Without compassion, without strength, without tears, without monthly mood-swings, without the pain of childbirth, the tender look in a mother’s eyes and the support of a wife or a girlfriend’s smile, where would we be?

Where will we be? We need to stop fighting and start embracing, remembering that the power of a woman is not defined by our power over men and each other, but instead our power of self. Think about it!

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ON OUR LIST!

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BOOKS WE CAN’T WAIT TO READ

April Daniels Hussar

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s we work to conquer our magically regenerating “To-Do” list and send this issue off to the printer (whilst simultaneously prepping for our upcoming fashion show spectacular May 31 – more on that later!), we don’t have time to read our mail, let alone an entire book. (Not that we’re complaining, lambs – how can we when our daily tasks include things like “contact MC’s publicist for latest scoop” and “choose photos for Curacao food piece”?) However, by the time you read this (hopefully taking a break from a fabulous to-do list of your own), we’ll be in that calm(ish) lull before it’s time to go crazy over the next issue. And here are the books we can’t wait to read – just as soon as we get that last item crossed off the list (“draft book recos”)!

Kiss And Run: The Single, Picky, and Indecisive Girl’s Guide to Overcoming Fear of Commitment Elina Furman (Simon & Schuster) Speaking of chick-lit, his little gem has been so well received; we might as well let the reviews speak for us: “Like the wise, funny sidekick every single woman needs, Furman finally says it out loud: ‘Not all women are dreaming of a diamond ring!’ And that’s ok.”

- Rachel Safier, author of There Goes the Bride

The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir Victoria Rowell (Harper Collins) You may know Victoria Rowell best as Drucilla Barber on CBS' The Young and the Restless, but she’s also an accomplished writer, devoted philanthropist, and, amazingly, product of the American foster care system.

The Women Who Raised Me illuminates six women in particular who were Rowell’s foster mothers from birth to the age of 18, and, judging by all the glowing reviews, promises to be a riveting, uplifting read.

The hardback version of Rowell’s memoir hit the famed New York Times bestsellers list last April, and garnered five stars from Amazon.com. This new paperback edition sounds like the perfect antidote to all the chick-lit that will be floating around this summer (not that there’s anything wrong with chick lit – just not as a steady diet!).

The Audacity Of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream Barack Obama (Crown) Whether you love him, hate him, or are still on that proverbial fence (First woman! First African American! First woman! First African American!), Barack Obama is undeniably one of our time’s most eloquent and brilliant thinkers and speakers. Most politicians hire ghostwriters or “co-writers” to pen their tomes, but Obama doesn’t need anyone so speak or write for him. As the US Democratic primaries reach a fever pitch, we want to take some time to learn more about the man who has re-introduced –with meaning – the word “hope” into the political landscape.

“Elina Furman has mustered up the courage to tell the dirty little secret about many successful, single American women. Not only do they want to date like men, they want to roll over, go to sleep and leave before the cock crows in the morning.”

- Jodie Gould, co-author of Date Like A Man:To Get the Man You Want When it comes to dating, are you a “Tinkerbell,” a “Long Distance Runner,” or perhaps a “Damsel in Distress?” Packed with quizzes, testimonials, and step-by-step action plans, Kiss and Run includes the five panic buttons, advice for curbing over-analysis, top ways women sabotage their love lives, and advice for fixing negative commitment scripts.

Any questions?! Now get thee to a bookstore! Your couch (or beach chair) is waiting!

O N S P OT AFUWI

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photography by

Margot Jordan

S P R I N G F O R WA R D photography by Robert Manella

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ibrant colours and casually bewitching fashion combine on a wondrous sojourn through Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Join us for lush foliage and thrilling Chukka Cove adventures, playful indulgence in a refined game of croquet at the luxurious Couples Sans Souci, and in the embrace of the rustic charm of Afterglow Villa.

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LEAD PAGE swimsuit by Karamba jean shorts by 3D THIS PAGE left - floral swimsuit by Karamba accesories by 3D

above - swimsuit by Karamba male outfit by 3D, accessories by Lubica

swimsuit by Karamba green and purple beach top by Karamba accessories by Lubica.

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PREVIOUS PAGE caribbean dresses by g.a.p accessories Reve male pants by 3D, shirt by Riddim Driven swimsuit and trunks by Karamba accessories by Reve and 3D

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pink purple swimsuit and knitted throw over by Karamba shell beaded neclace by Reve Jamaica

Photography by Robert Manella Make-up and styling by 3D Dexter Pottinger

red and tan two piece doll swimsuit by Karamba hulk neclace by Reve Jamaica

Models: Treveen, Leon and Anastasia Models provided by Saint International Jamaica

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OCEAN DRIVES:

2008 C-CLASS:

LARGER THAN LIFE! Rawle E. Francis

n the December ‘07 issue of Ocean Style we listed the all-new CClass Mercedes Benz as one of the most desirable cars for 2008.

With that in mind dear reader, we present to you the 2008 CClass in all its glory.

The new C-Class Salon replaces a model series of which more than 1.4 million units have been sold since 2000. This makes the C-Class the bestselling Mercedes-Benz passenger car of all time.

Seven years in the making, the all-new C-Class promises to exceed your wildest expectations. Our test drive of the sporty AVANTGARDE C180 Kompressor epitomized driving pleasure perfection.

This multi-faceted product offering represents the ultimate fusion of modern Mercedes idioms: safety, comfort and agility; all outstanding attributes of the brand.

Boasting a revamped skin, Mercedes uses the stylish radiator grille as a distinguishing feature to position the model variants more clearly. For example:Three extended, horizontal louvres and a big. centrally positioned Mercedes star characterize the chic AVANTGARDE model, whereas the traditional bonnet placement of the ornamental star stays with the refined ELEGANCE models.

Mercedes-Benz offers several individual models emphasizing either comfort or agility. All model variants share the latest, state-of-theart technology and newest engineering standards for the entire industry. Benz says: “Our ‘product-in-product’ concept enables Mercedes customers to accentuate individual choices and configure the CClass to suit their personal taste and lifestyle even more emphatically than before.”

Perhaps the most striking attribute of the latest C-Class is that it doesn’t look like a compact car at all. The new C-Class is larger than the model it replaces: 3.9 inches longer, 1.7 inches wider and 1.4 inches higher. There is a bit more shoulder room in the front and rear and an extra bag can fit in the trunk. At first glance you might think you’re gazing at big brother E-Class.

The AVANTGARDE styling is assertive, with a chiseled downward-slanted nose and sexy upswept trim lines along the sides. Striking 17-inch 5-spoke wheels are standard on this upbeat model.

The sporty presence of our AVANTGARDE C180 test vehicle can

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be enhanced even further with the AMG sports package, which includes striking front and rear aprons plus side skirts.

AVANTGARDE felt crisper than usual, with minimal body roll.

The throttle response of the supercharged C180 Kompressor was nearly instantaneous, as output has been increased by 13 percent. The combination of a slick Tip-Tronic transmission and AGILITY CONTROL suspension makes the C-Class Sport a must have for spirited driving.

On the flip-side, improvements in fuel consumption are equally impressive: the C 180 KOMPRESSOR consumes 0.3 litres per 100 kilometers less than its predecessor.

Even More Safety During the course of its development, the new C-Class successfully passed more than 100 different crash tests, including the particularly demanding, in-house impact tests (of which some go well beyond the legal requirements). Passing these is a precondition for the highest accolade in automobile safety: The Mercedes star.

Mercedes-Benz has developed flashing brake lights as a major help in reducing rear-end collisions. More importantly, the standard head restraints operate on the NECK PRO principle: during a rear-end collision the padded surfaces are pushed forward within milliseconds to support the heads of the driver and front passenger at an early stage.

This significantly reduces the risk of a whiplash injury.

All the necessary controls and display elements are located in immediate proximity to the driver via a multifunction steering wheel, a seven-inch infotainment touch screen at the top center of the dashboard, or by using a controller on the centre console.

Among the new standard features is an Agility Control System, which offers shock absorbers that adjust to the driving situation, an Adaptive Brake System, 8-way power front seats with lumbar support and driver memory, two-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, up-sized wing mirrors, and an Intelligent Headlight System.

In parting, the C-Class is a superb machine with a zippy edge, offering its luxury accoutrements vivaciously. The AVANTGARDE C180 Kompressor makes a luxury statement first and adds performance as a bonus.

Go ahead… dare to dream, test drive one.

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SKETCHBOOK

CATHERINE

MALANDRINO April Daniels Hussar

ensual, romantic Paris + glam, kinetic NYC = the ultimate in modern femininity.

Before launching her own wildly successful label in 1998, French-born Catherine Malandrino worked in the houses of such fashion luminaries as Dorothee Bliss and Emanual Ungaro. She served as the creative force that gave rebirth to Parisian phenomenon Et Vous, then made her entrance in America at the helm of Diane Von Furstenburg's famous re-launch.

Catherine's own designs have been worn onstage by Madonna, drooled over on Sex and the City, and anointed by the crème de la crème of Hollywood including Julia Roberts, Demi Moore and Halle Berry. Catherine's iconic American flag dress already made it into Zandra Rhodes' Fashion and Textile Museum in London, but with a new accessories line and the opening of a the two-story retail concept Malandrino Maison, it seems this force of nature is just getting started.

We recently caught up with the sensational designer for a quick peek into the world of Catherine Malandrino.

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OCEAN ST YLE had a fabul ou s time at your recent NYC Fashion Week show. How did it go for you?

Fashion week is always an intense moment, which ultimately gives birth to a new collection with the pain, excitement and pleasure that it implies. I was very happy to express through my collection the passion of the Lalanne sculptors [that] inspired me.

S o w h a t ' s ha p p e n i n g r i gh t n o w w i th M a l an dr i no ?

The Malandrino and the Catherine Malandrino lines are both taking an international turn, with boutiques in Istanbul and Dubai.

For the first time, I present a Malandrino accessory collection including jewelry (mineral

necklaces and enamel cuffs, bracelets and rings). The shapes and colors of the accessories are inspired by the poetic work of the sculptors such as the leaf bag or the jasmine flower shoes.

What are some of the m os t exciti ng trends you see today in the fashion industry?

Today fashion should be about individuality and self-expression, as opposed to a dictatorial fashion.

How do you feel about having a boutique (along with Chloe, Tory Burch, Christian Louboutin, Anya Hindermarch and more) in the Palazzo Las Vegas, which has just been named the Largest 'Green' Building in the World?

What I find interesting about the Palazzo is the right and particular selection that represents a new generation of designers. It is a new approach to fashion: more international and edgy (for Las Vegas). I am very proud to be part of largest Green Building in the world being that it is in line with my personal convictions.

Who is the wom an you have in mi nd when you're designing for Malandrino? And Catherine Malandrino?

A Malandrino woman is a woman who sees femininity as a strength, a woman who uses clothing as a means to be in harmony with herself. [She’s] a powerful woman as well as a mother or a lover. She dresses to

be remembered.

The Catherine Malandrino wardrobe is meant for an everyday woman in action who will not compromise with her femininity.

Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day starts with enlightenment, with time for draping, cutting fabric in view of giving birth to a new vision What's one thi ng you al ways have in your bag?

I always carry a sketchbook, which is ready to receive new ideas.

Blige; you've dressed movie stars like Halle Berry and Dem i Moore -- now, what's your dream project?

My dream project is the realization of Malandrino Maison [on Melrose Place in LA] where I can express a certain "art de vivre" which is very dear to me. A place where I can design one of a kind pieces for an intimate world, [the world of the] interior.

Pl eas e descri be you r i deal Caribbean

trip.

My way to escape is to fly to a remote, wild island in the Bahamas with absolutely no connection with the rest of the world, with reality.

You've designed for such icons as Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex and the City and Mary J.

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OC EA N ST YL E’S

BLOODY GOOD STUFF Absolut(ely) Bloody Good Stuff ecause we can all use a little disco at the end of the day. Having conquered the battlefield of life and commerce for another 24-hour cycle, join us as we indulge in a mixed drink… or two… or three... Absolut Disco serves the dual purpose of whetting the lips whilst loosening the stranglehold of the days' pressures, perhaps even serving as a basis for inspired thought, a road to a higher plain, all the while evoking memories of our Donna Summer-inspired nights on the dance floor. Well, if not all that, then at least it’s the key ingredient for your martini, mixed drink, or inspired evening Red Bull! Our favorites: generously mixed with Ting! or fresh coconut water... ensuring that even after a night of – shall we say – (over) indulgence, you start the next day as resilient as you were in your hard charging 20s. (If you still are in your 20’s – enjoy, kittens!) The bottle's cool factor just adds another dimension to taking that edge off and hence... earns our vote! Quite simply...bloody good stuff!

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bloody [adjective] used to emphasize in a slightly rude way - good [adjective] of a favorable character or tendency - stuff [noun] materials or supplies used in activities

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O N S P OT A ir Jamaica Jazz Festiv al

* MONTEGO B

AY, JAMAICA + Januar y 2008

photography by

Robert Manel

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FIT FOR A PRINCESS

LEAD PAGE ladies watches by Movado Esperanza Operta Amerosa Eliptica Kardelo Monto Portico THIS PAGE pearls by Honora Pearls

photography by Robert Manella

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oyal Glam and Fabulous Glitz await in the recently opened Shoppes of Rose Hall. Prince Charming not required...

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earrings and rings by Blue Diamond

watches by Omega Watches Ladies Constellation Ladies DeVille Men's Speedmaster Men's Seamaster

earrings and necklace by Blue Diamond

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THE

MUSICBUSINESSIN THE NEW MILLENNIUM

ecord labels are losing money fast. Artists are scrambling to figure out how to exploit the power of the Internet to propel their careers. And music fans are increasingly becoming accustomed to getting their music online for free. Where do you find the balance between consumer control and demand, artists’ longevity and record label profitability? It’s a scary time.

It’s an exciting time. It’s the dawn of a new day in the world of music.

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How the Digital Revolution is transforming one of the most lucrative industries around.

or many music fans, buying physical CDs is quickly becoming a thing of the past. While some are making the shift to purchasing music online, the larger portion of music consumers are downloading music (illegally) for free. And while it may appear to some that the price tag associated with acquiring new music has suddenly gone away, the cost of creating and providing that music has not. As the recording industry grapples with the rapidly changing, uncontrollable trends of today’s consumer-behavior patterns and their own financial and operational needs, the burning question for record-label, artist and music fan alike remains: What is the future of the music industry?

To put things in some perspective and context, here’s a quick breakdown of the music business ecosystem: Music labels generally have two primary revenue generators: recorded assets (recordings) and written music compositions (publishing). The morelucrative of the two has traditionally been the sale of recordings, with its steep profit margins. A label will invest heavily in the development and marketing of an artist, creating a major superstar (like our cover girl Mariah

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Ric Mathews illustration by Rorie Atkinson

Carey) who is able to sell millions of records, thus pumping millions of dollars back to the label, which is then able to continue to invest in other rising stars and keep that system in motion. This flow has traditionally made everyone happy: labels make money, artists get paid and fans get a diverse pool of music to devour. But as access to the recordings becomes available to the masses for free, suddenly you have a radical disruption to this system that affects every party involved – label, artist and fan.

Not so long ago, “sharing” was limited to good old “mixed tapes” – hardly a massive threat to the industry. Fast-forward to the early 90’s as the adoption of the CD format became universal. Bootleggers began to flood the streets with high sound quality copies of albums at a fraction of the cost. Though these music bandits found a quick, dirty and very profitable way of meeting consumer demand, they were only squeezing droplets from the multi-billion dollar music oil-well.

Against the backdrop of all this, one of the greatest advents of modern society was taking shape across the planet – the World Wide Web. In 1999, Shawn Fanning, a college kid from Boston, Massachu-

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setts single-handedly triggered the music consumption revolution – and the beginning of the end of the modern music business – with the creation of Napster. The popularity of the file-sharing service took off with lightening speed. By 2001, Napster had over 26 million users worldwide, according to a report by Jupiter Media Metrix (July, 2001). As online file-sharing spread like wildfire, media outlets and artists took notice and lawsuits against Napster piled up quickly, eventually leading to its demise later that year (though it was eventually acquired and converted to a legitimate retailer of online music). But it was too late to stop what Napster started and similar peer-topeer networks sprouted rapidly. Despite aggressive campaigns by major entities like the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against file-swappers, as technology advanced, the hemorrhaging only worsened.

Over the next few years, record labels began to see a real threat to their lucrative business model of old.

These days, despite declines in revenues attributed to online piracy, the recorded music business as a whole is still a multi-billion dollar behemoth.

Sales from CDs, while dropping considerably, still hold the industry together and a recent report

by Nielson SoundScan shows that paid digital downloads are now starting to slow down the bleeding. In fact, while sales of physical CDs see double-digit declines year over year, digital sales are seeing the exact opposite, according to Billboard. Apple’s iTunes Music store sold its three billionth song last year and is on an explosive trajectory of growth. Meanwhile, more online retailers continue to jump into the digital music arena worldwide. Add to that the approximate one billion songs downloaded illegally on a monthly basis and the proliferation of portable digital music players (a market dominated by Apple’s iPod), and it becomes clear that the digital revolution of music consumption is in full swing. .

Record labels are working fast and furiously to figure out how to take back control and stay alive.

Chris Chambers, former senior executive at Sony BMG and now CEO of The Chamber Group, an entertainment and sports public relations and marketing firm, says label executives need to figure out how to harness the power of the Internet: “They … have not fully embraced it because they don’t have the knowledge of what the Internet and technology can really do in aiding them in selling music,” he said.

Born in New York to Jamaican parents, Chambers believes bringing new talent to the mix will help turn things around. “The industry is going to be forced to be in tune with technology and they’re going to have to bring people inside [who] understand marketing and selling with the Internet, instead of looking at it as the enemy,” Chambers said.

In the last couple of years, top record labels in the major music markets have added digital media sales and marketing specialists

to their staffs. Their task? Design and build new revenue streams to monetize all the valuable content labels are capable of generating around their artists.

Chief executive of Warner Music Group Edgar Bronfman, Jr. believes there are still multiple opportunities to monetize recorded assets. “The growth in the sale of music on the Internet and via mobile devices has been awesome, and there is a lot more to come in video content, ringtones and bundling of albums, tracks, concert tickets, video, merchandise, games…you name it.”

Record label executives have evangelized the idea of a “360 degree” business model for decades – where label involvement with the artist’s career spanned touring, merchandizing and endorsements in addition to recording and publishing. But for the most part, artists have traditionally shied away from putting all their eggs in one basket, diversifying recording and publishing under separate companies and managing

The question remains – just how viable are these approaches to the larger scope of artists and musicians? Sure, major recording stars like Madonna have built enough brand value and a loyal fan base to entertain riskier deals. But how many artists today have the star-power to consistently sell out worldwide tours and strike such enormous contracts?

Can an up and coming artist like Rihanna, whose star is now beginning to shine with major cross-over success, afford such a risky play? Would Sean Paul, who is carving a name for himself in multiple international markets as a top reggae artist, achieve profitability with a digital, name your price ploy for his upcoming 2008 release? For less popular, emerging, and unsigned artists - what does a career in the future music industry look like?

Not to be forgotten and the key player in all of this is the everyday music consumer.

With all kinds of music available at our fingertips for free, will we ever be willing to revert to actually paying for music again? Without money, labels can’t discover, market and pay top-notch artists to create the music we seek and desire. And without getting paid, artists can’t afford to make a living creating great music.

So, what will it take? “The quality of the music,” says Chambers.

“Quality has gone down so much that no one buys a whole album anymore. You didn’t mind paying ten dollars for a Prince or Michael Jackson or Madonna record because we were in that era of artists [that were] visionaries. And those are far and few between in today’s market,” he said.

One avid music downloader who asked to remain anonymous said, “I have over 10,000 songs in my digital library and roughly 40 percent of that I downloaded for free on the Internet. It’s not because I refuse to pay for music anymore, but if I’m going to spend money I want to be sure it’s worth it.”

He believes fans steal music from companies because they feel like these companies have been stealing from them for years. “Albums today have one or two good songs and the rest is garbage. I won’t support that. It feels like I’m being robbed,” he said.

The ripple effect of music being acquired on the Internet for free means more than just record labels and artists losing money or changing the dynamics of those business relationships. It rattles the very core of the music ecosystem; how great music and great artists are created in the first place.

While it remains to be seen how record labels can survive financially in this consumer-controlled environment and how artists can establish long-term careers without the financial backing of a record label, the important role both music and technology play in our everyday lives will require all of us – label, artist and fan alike – to ensure that this essential art form itself is not compromised and survives the ever-surging digital revolution.

INES IN TH ES E DAYS , DE SP IT E DE CL RE VE NUES AT TR IB UT ED TO ON LI NE C PI RA CY, TH E RE CO RD ED MUSI BUS INES S AS A WHO LE IS STILL A MOTH .

MU LT I-B ILLI ON DO LL AR BE HE touring and endorsements via third-party agencies. This provided the artist with an ability to utilize multiple sources for optimal protection of their income. Given the precarious climate of today’s market, however, should artists re-consider this approach?

Music superstar Madonna recently inked a deal with Live Nation, one of the top live concert and touring management companies in the world, for an estimated $120 million. It was the first of its kind, offering a true 360-degree approach to the artist-label relationship, encompassing three new albums and all the super lucrative touring and merchandising.

Less concerned with profits from album sales, Live Nation is betting that the Material Girl will continue to gross millions in sold-out tours, allowing them to leverage Madonna’s name and likeness in the highly profitable merchandising business. Judging by the phenomenal success of her recent single “4 Minutes,” they made a pretty good bet.

Another groundbreaking business model that recently made music headlines across the world was the band Radiohead offering its new album “In Rainbows” online directly to consumers, with no label involvement, at whatever price consumers wanted to pay – even if that meant them paying nothing. Although results later would show that a majority of fans who downloaded the album paid little or nothing, industry experts estimate the band earned more profits with their unprecedented strategy than they would have by releasing a physical CD through a label via traditional distribution channels.

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Y D O O BL OD GO FF STU STY N A OCE

KiYara Ocean Spa at Jamaica Inn efresh, release, reflect… Experience Bliss.”

Sound heavenly? It is.

High among the coral cliffs of Cutlas Bay, this lavish spa concocts treatments from the plants of the island, sourced both from local organic farmers and wild-gathered, by environmentally sustainable methods. From revitalizing, pure botanical facials to tropical body beauty rituals to tandem massages (oolala), you won’t run out of ways to be pampered, rejuvenated, and restored.

It’s the ultimate indulgence… good for you, good for Mama Earth. Now that’s what we call eco-friendly. Bloody good stuff indeed.

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bloody [adjective] used to emphasize in a slightly rude way - good [adjective] of a favorable character or tendency - stuff [noun] materials or supplies used in activities

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‘BON PROBECHO’ AT ANGELICA ’S KITCHEN Ocean Style’s Sharon McDonnell explores the multi-ethnic cuisine of this Caribbean Island photography by Hans Fonk

oming home has a very special meaning for most people. It's particularly sweet for Curacao native Angelique Schoop, who, after nearly 20 years living between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, now owns and operates Angelique's Kitchen, a cooking school in her childhood home.

From this attractive green house with white trim in Otrobanda (a neighborhood in Willemstad, the capital city of Curacao) Schoop teaches cooking classes to groups, followed by dinner with wine in her tiled outdoor courtyard. She also organizes culinary walking tours of Willemstad. About five years ago, Schoop purchased the house her family rented during her childhood and expanded and modernized the kitchen to professional standards.

It's a truism that the history of a place can be read in its food, and the island of Curacao, home to over 55 nationalities, is no exception. The traditional cuisine of Curacao comprises a unique and fascinating blend of Dutch, South American, African and Jewish food traditions, rendering claims of "fusion" cuisine elsewhere laughably inadequate.

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The Dutch settled Curacao in 1634. The Governor, a certain Peter Stuyvesant, soon left to become Governor of a little colony called New Amsterdam (later renamed New York). Curacao remains a self-governing part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as do neighboring islands Aruba and Bonaire.

Only 35 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Curacao became a major slave depot in the human trafficking from Africa to South and North America. Spanish and Portuguese Jews living in Amsterdam emigrated in 1651. The synagogue they founded in Willemstad, Curacao is the oldest in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere, having been dedicated in 1732.

Papiamentu, the local language, reflects this polyglot heritage: it's a mix of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and African dialects. The most traditional food in Curacao is probably Keshi Yena, a delectable sweet and savory stew of chicken, raisins, vegetables and spices, baked for over an hour inside a hollowed-out Edam or Gouda cheese, which gets deliciously melted.

"Most of our traditional dishes are influenced by the fact that in the old days we had no electricity to keep food refrigerated. So a lot of dishes feature salted meat, salted fish and the like, because that was the only way to preserve meat and fish, and we have many stews, mainly with root vegetables, that have cured meat or cured fish," explains Schoop.

At Angelica's the emphasis is on having a good time in the kitchen. “I want people to make a great dish that is easy and delicious, that they can make at home." In our class we learned how to make Stew Beef with Caribbean Vegetables.

Angelica’s stew combines okra, eggplant, tomatoes, Habanero pepper and red bell pepper, flavored with fresh thyme leaves, fresh basil, paprika, oregano and onion.

Any creative Caribbean cook plays virtuosic variations on plantains as if they were musical instruments. Schoop's no exception: our class prepared Angelica's Plantain Soup from sweet potatoes, cinnamon, sugar, annatto grains, and just a dash of curry.

A Curacao specialty concocted around Christmas and New Years in large quantities originally hails from Venezuela. Plantain or banana leaves are boiled, then stuffed with chicken washed in lime juice and pork chop cooked with tomato paste, curry, oregano, soy sauce, garlic powder and chicken broth, and spread with a cumin-spiced dough to which raisins, a dried prunes, olives, cashews, a dice of ham, a baby onion and a pickle have been added. Then, the leaves are folded, tied with a string, and boiled for an hour to make Ayaca (called Hallaca in Spanish).

Rijstaffel, or "rice table," is a Dutch-style Curacao treat. It's the famous buffet of many little dishes (often up to two dozen) and condiments, accompanied by rice. Originally found in the former Dutch East Indies –(Indonesia), the Dutch brought the tradition back to Holland and the islands during their rule in the Caribbean.

Pan Levi, crisp sponge cookies that originated with Curacao's Angelica's Plantain Soup Serves 10

5 ripe plantains 500 g sweet potatoes 250 g bacon 1 large onion 2 cinnamon sticks 2 teaspoons curry

1 tablespoon vegetable oil 10 annatto grains 6 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons butter 2 liters of water dash of salt

Peel plantains and cut in 3-cm thick slices.

Peel sweet potatoes and dice in 3-cm cubes.

Dice onion finely.

Dice bacon coarsely.

Combine plantains, sweet potatoes, cinnamon and water in large pot.

Bring to gentle boil and summer until potatoes are done, about 20 minutes.

Heat frying pan and sauté bacon until brown and crisp. Set aside.

Discard most oil in pan and sauté onion lightly.

Add curry and 6 tablespoons sugar to onion; heat and stir until onion starts caramelizing.

Add caramelized onion to soup.

In another pan, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil gently and add 10 annatto grains to oil.

Add annatto oil to soup.

Add dash of salt and simmer another 5 minutes.

Put 1/3 of the cooked sweet potatoes and plantains into a bowl; add butter and mash.

Return mashed vegetables to soup to thicken and stir well.

If necessary, add sugar to taste. Garnish with crisp bacon bites.

Jewish community, contribute to the island’s cultural hodgepodge.

These goodies are baked for holidays and festive occasions, given as gifts to relatives and friends, and sent as a "get well" to the sick.

Adding to the charm of Schoop's cooking school is the close proximity of Kura Hulanda, an eight-block village of restored 18th and19th century Dutch and Spanish Colonial buildings in soft pastels lined with cobblestone paths, as well as a waterfall-fed pool, an Indian marble garden, and myriad outdoor restaurants. The local museum, which includes a replica of a slave board, cannot fail to move anyone with a heart.

There's one Curacao specialty, though, that you won't learn to cook at Angelica's Kitchen. Not only does Schoop not teach it, she has, in fact, never tasted Sopi di Yuana. "I have never eaten Iguana Soup or Stew and I don't think I ever will. It doesn't attract me."

For more on Angelica’s Kitchen visit www.angelicas-kitchen.com

Beef with Caribbean Vegetables Serves 4

400 g lean beef 2 tomatoes salt and pepper 1 Habanero pepper (Madame 1 tablespoon dried oregano Jeanette pepper) 1 tablespoon paprika powder 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 2 cloves of garlic 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped 1 red bell pepper 1 tablespoon tomato paste, mixed 1 medium onion with 2-3 tablespoons water 100 g okra olive oil 100 g eggplant Cut beef in 2-cm cubes.

Rub beef cubes with salt, pepper, paprika and dried oregano.

Let beef marinate for 15 minutes.

Chop garlic finely.

Cut bell pepper, onion, tomato and eggplant in 1/2 inch cubes.

Slice okra, not too thin.

Cut Habanero pepper in half, discard the pungent seeds, slice carefully.

Take thyme leaves from the stem and chop basil.

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a deep frying pan; add garlic.

Brown beef cubes on high heat; don't overcook.

Take beef out of pan and add 1 tablespoon oil.

Stir-fry vegetables, starting with bell pepper and onion.

Fry onion to golden brown.

Add okra and eggplant and stir-fry about 5 minutes.

Add tomatoes, Habanero pepper, tomato puree mixed with water, fresh thyme and basil; mix well and heat through.

Simmer sauce for about 5 minutes.

Add beef, cover with sauce and reheat gently.

Taste; add salt and pepper if necessary. www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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VIBES

E D I B L E OUR RESIDENT FOOD EXPERT, MICHELLE JONES, OFFERS SOME DELIGHTFUL OFFERINGS

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fter a year of tantalizing and teaching Jamaicans how to up the ante with their cooking, Vibes Cuisine TV host Michelle Jones unveiled a fantastic new kitchen custom created by Jamaica’s best outfitters—Appliance Traders and Home International Ltd. The gorgeous and generous host is sharing the wealth with her Jamaican viewers, who can win weekly prizes (deluxe small appliances, restaurant dinners for two, and resort weekends), not to mention the grand prize of a sparkling new kitchen, complete with custom cabinets, corian counters and high end stainless steel appliances. While Michelle puts her new kitchen to work she made time as always, to share another delicious dish with Ocean Style.

Michelle is in her element Wednesday s and Sundays at 7:50p.m. and Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00a.m. on Jamaica’s CVM TV.

Grilled Rib Eye Steak with Shrimp Pasta

2 Beef rib eye steaks S. & P. Mustard seeds Shrimp peeled and deveined Zucchini, rough chopped

Tomatoes, rough chopped 1 cup whipping cream Garlic 1.5 cups cooked whole wheat pasta

1. Season steaks with S. & P. and mustard seeds.

2. Heat grill pan on high and grill steaks for 6 min per side or to your liking 3. Heat olive oil in a skillet.

4. Season shrimp with S. & P. 5. Add shrimp, zucchini, tomatoes to pan and cook until shrimp turn pink.

6. Add pasta and cream. Toss. Do not boil.

7. Plate & serve steaks along with the pasta.

8. Enjoy!

Suggestions: If using precooked shrimp sauté vegetables alone first then add shrimp and heat through. Omit cream if desired. Grill steak 6 minutes for medium well done. Substitute whole wheat pasta whenever possible as it is less processed therefore leaving more fibre and nutrients.

Fish and Potato Cakes

2 Tilapia Fillets S. & P. 1½ cups leftover mashed potatoes

½ cup breadcrumbs 3 tbsp. dill chopped ½ tsp. thyme leaves

1. Rinse and dry fish fillets.

2. Season with S. & P. and thyme. Place in a microwaveable baking dish, cover with vented plastic.

3. Microwave on high for 2 ½ to 3 minutes or until fish flakes easily.

4. Break tilapia into small pieces.

5. In another bowl, combine fish, potatoes , bread crumbs, dill and thyme.

6. Form mixture into small patties.

7. Pan fry in a non stick skillet lightly brushed with oil or butter approximately 3 minutes per side.

, S R E E H CS ALUD, A V OT R E S A NT E , PR O ST ! rkinson

Rosemar y Pa

T

hese are just some of the words we hear in bars across the world as “drinkers” clink glasses and down their particular “poison” – or perhaps I should say “divine libation” before anti-alcohol-proponents think for one delusive moment that they can count me amongst them.

I grew up on cocktails. In the Caribbean, come six o’clock, one would not dare meet the night unless a good rum cocktail was shaken and imbibed with gusto! I spent many an afternoon with old uncles sitting on the plantation verandah just ‘sipping’ (hidden from the watchful eye of my parents).

Later when I was old enough and my father and mother would shake dat cocktail, I would not miss the opportunity of those beautiful sunsets, the camaraderie of ol’ talk, the history lessons of Caribbean life and the perfunctory ‘knocking-back’ of our golden elixir. But exactly where did this word “cocktail” come from? I mean, who decided to suddenly call a drink served up in specially designed glasses and chilled to perfection, a “cocktail”? The stories are thousands, you just have to “surf the net” to read hilarious anecdotes like these: - In the 1800s, King Axoloti VII of Mexico was having a little, notso-jovial chat with an American General of the Southern States, attempting to organize a peace treaty. The King offered the General a drink. A beautiful Mexican girl arrived with only one. Both King and General, hesitant to grab the only one offered, were aghast when the girl put the glass to her lips and downed the lot. Coctel was her name.

The General, taken by her ability to knock it back, promised to immortalize her name.

- Betsy the barmaid served “Betsy’s Bracers” to American and French soldiers at a tavern in Hall’s Corner, New York, during the Revolutionary War. One night a pheasant stolen from the British by the Americans was eaten heartily with much libations toasting to Betsy’s drink with the words: "Here's to the divine liquor which is as delicious to the palate, as the cock's tails are beautiful to the eye." A French officer piped up: “Vive le cocktail!” And voila. The name stuck!

- A New York tavern owner’s daughter mixed a powerful concoction to lure a suitor into marriage. The couple lay on their honeymoon bed when the gentleman’s rooster “Lightning” (in the honeymoon boudoir?) suddenly decided (for whatever weird reason) to crow loudly, shaking loose a tail. The new wife ppopped the feather into the drink (obviously at her bedside for sipping use whilst misbe-

having), lifted the glass and uttered: "Lightning names this drink! Drink this cocktail, sir, to your success with my father, and as a pledge to our future happiness!"

- In early colonial times, a large pot containing a par-boiled chicken, raisins, mace and brown sugar would be fermented for nine days to be imbibed during cockfights. The tap for pouring was called “a cock”. When the “ale” reached the bottom of the barrel that portion was deemedthe “cocktail”.

Now the real reason I was tearing through the net re the birth of cocktails: I was soon to be confronted with the daunting task of hosting Tony Abou-Ganim as he arrived in Barbados last October for the annual Taste of Barbados.

I felt a need to be able to share a joke or two with him about my knowledge of cocktails but, before I could utter a word, this gentleman, straight off the plane and upon settling into my car, declared: “Take me to the nearest rumshop.” Not a “whiskey bar” (using the immortal words of Morrison of the famed Doors) but a rumshop! “I’ve heard so much about rumshops, just have to be in one,” he said, smiling that gorgeous broad smile of his. I happily obliged. This was my territory! The University of Life! Now I could tell him a thing or two!

But this man, this “modern mixologist” touted as America’s No. 1, settled into the rumshop as though he was born to the bar. But then, hello, of course he was. Once you get to know Tony Abou-Ganim you realize that this profession was unmistakably his from the time he was a wee lad.

Tony Abou-Ganim grew up learning the craft from his cousin Helen David at the Brass Rail Bar in Port Huron, Michigan, steeped in the tradition of classic cocktails and professional barmanship that www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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groomed him to become a leader in the beverage industry. In 1998, the $1.7 billion Bellagio Resort hand-picked him to create their cocktail program. Abou-Ganim immediately implemented his philosophy of bartending and drink preparation - quality ingredients and proper technique to create great drinks - developing hundreds of original cocktails for the resort’s 22 bars.

Featured demonstrating the art of cocktail preparation on the Fine Living Network program “Raising the Bar: America’s Best Bar Chefs”, he has worked side by side on “Iron Chef America” with celebrity chef Mario Batali (AKA“Battle Mango”). AbouGanim’s first DVD “Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home” is a total must for those with the slightest interest in the art of cocktail preparation (modernmixologydvd.com).

Abou-Ganim is also the proprietor of the Modern Mixologist, a beverage consulting that specializing in bar-staff training, product education and cocktail development. He’s presently at work on his first book, The Modern Mixologist, of course. His specialty drinks have been featured in top consumer magazines including Food & Wine, Vanity Fair, Wine Enthusiast, Fortune, Wine Spectator, Playboy, The New York Times Magazine, Nightclub & Bar, Cheers and Santé. Because of his fun and innovative approach to cocktails, broadcast media has noticed him as well, with segments appearing regularly on many television networks, including CNBC, Fine Living, and the Food Network’s "Taste of Vegas". He has received numerous awards for his contributions to the beverage industry, including the 2004 “Raising the Bar” award by Cheers Magazine; Santé Magazine’s 2004 “Spirits Professional of the Year”; and a Gold Medal for the United States at the 2003 Bacardi-Martini Grand Prix World Finals held in Turin, Italy.

So with all of this fame behind him, you might ask: why the tiny island of Barbados?. Well, it is the home of Mount Gay Rum, one of his favorites (also featured on his DVD) and coming here had been Tony’s dream for awhile. So when I popped the question (I wish!), I mean when the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association asked me to pop the question, he was here in two-twos. Tony mesmerized those who came to watch his “seminars” (more like drink-ups) at the Hilton Hotel, Bougainvillea Hotel, and at Taste of Barbados’ Aphrodisiac night at the well-known Sandy Lane’s Casa De Pablo Villa. The rolling hills of sugar cane for which Barbados is so famous totally fascinated him. Although we did manage a small tour of the island, with a little trip to Mount Gay Distilleries, time did not permit a visit to the original distilleries in the northern parish of St. Lucy. But we all know that the lure of rum will bring him back!

Actually, Barbados was not to be Tony’s only Caribbean sojourn. One month later, I met him again in Rodney Bay at the St. Lucia Food & Rum Festival. Once again, even though his busy schedule had him in and out of the island in no time at all, Tony ensured he sipped on the best rums the Caribbean has to offer – and those of us from the islands understand very well, there are many. He also enjoyed a boat ride along the coast one moonlit night to partake of Oprah’s darling, Chef Art Smith’s fine “homecooking” at Discovery Hotel, Marigot Bay, and a little nightlife at the festival’s street party in Rodney Bay itself, chatting up the ladies, shaking his hips from side to side Caribbean style ‘till the wee hours of the morning, a beastly cold Piton beer in his hand!

I do believe our island hospitality will live for a long time in his heart, and Tony will be soon back again checking out where dat rum comes from!

Ganim’s latest “bar trick” is the new Bar Milano on 323 Third Avenue at 24th Street, New York. A collaboration with partners such as Jason & Joe Denton, Chef Eric Kleinman and Chef Steven Connaughton (Lupa, Ino, Inoteca), Bar Milano offers a varied menu of Northern Italian classic food, accompanied by 500 different wines and Tony’s fully loaded cocktail bar. It’s sure to have patrons in a tizz from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. in the morning. Although he calls Las Vegas home, there is no doubt that you just might catch a glimpse of this humble, affable, funny, good-looking man at Bar Milano shaking it all up. See you there!

As the National Ambassador of the US Bartenders’ Guild and Associate Member of the Museum of the American Cocktail, Tony continues to educate about the history and lore of cocktails as well as lead the bar industry in continually improving the art of the cocktail.

SO WITH ALL OF THIS FAME BEHIND HIM, YOU MIGHT ASK: WHY THE TINY ISLAND OF BARBADOS? WELL, IT IS THE HOME OF MOUNT GAY RUM, ONE OF HIS FAVORITES, AND COMING HERE HAD BEEN TONY’S DREAM FOR A WHILE.

YENDI THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT

ooking at these photos it may be hard to believe Yendi Phillips once described herself to The Jamaica Observer as a “ruffian” and joked good naturedly about having a wedgy! But this spirited, intelligent girl – one of the most beloved Miss Jamaicas ever, and current host of Digicel Rising Stars – is no stereotypical beauty queen.

She may have the face (and body) of a goddess, but Yendi Phillips is one Rising Star with her feet firmly on the ground. Or – as our very own hair and makeup stylist extraordinaire Dexter Pottinger puts it, “She ja sweet heart, down to earth and all!”

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photography by Marvin Bartley

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OCEAN STYLE LEAD PAGE designer outfit by Lucy Paris accessories and head piece by Dexter 3D Pottinger THIS PAGE top by Runway Collection shirt by Be Mine earring and arm band by H & M head piece by Dexter 3D Pottinger

designer outfit by Lucy Paris accessories and head piece by Dexter 3D Pottinger

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A BEACHSIDE

FAIRY TALE Terri-Kaye James and Kimani Robinson's Wedding

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as it the below-freezing temperatures that October night in New York, or perhaps a touch of nerves that hit Kimani Robinson the night he proposed to his girlfriend of 11 years, Terri-Kaye James? A little of both perhaps, but either way, it was definitely a case of “third times the charm.�

blue & black dress by Girls Touch

Photography by Marvin Bartley Make-up and styling by 3D Dexter Potting er Model: Yendi Phillips

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After first losing his nerve at Asiate, the exclusive Manhattan restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental hotel, and then again on their classically romantic horse and buggy ride through Central Park, Kimani finally went down on one knee at the door of their suite at Trump International, where he had whisked Terri-Kaye for the weekend.

The hesitation however wasn't an uncertainty about spending the rest of his life with his best friend. In fact, pending Terri-Kaye's answer, Kimani had already booked a tentative date.

And following an emotional proposal filled with talk of love, lifetime, togetherness and family - and an even more emotional acceptance - the date was indeed set: January 5, 2008. The venue was to be Dragon Bay, Port Antonio.

As owner of Stoosh Jamaica, TerriKaye is well aware of Jamaica's hidden gems. Having spent a number of years away from Jamaica, the couple realized there's no place like home. And for this bride and groom, there’s no place like Port Antonio. For them, it's magic.

It was to be a day filled with laughter, dancing, and white Phaleonopsis orchids… 5,000 blooms and 200 plants to be exact. An enchanted and elegantly orchestrated event that would speak to the couple's love and their desire to celebrate with those who played important roles in their lives - starting with their bridal party. As her bridesmaids, TerriKaye chose the women in her life who had helped her become the woman she was. Kimani’s long-time crew from Campion High School, otherwise known as “The Council,” stood by his side as groomsmen.

Terri-Kaye and Kimani also created an extended bridal party called “Seals,” comprised of friends and family, who, having shared in the couple's life, could testify to their love. As Christians, they chose the word “Seals” in reference to Corinthians and the manifestation of good love, mirrored by their love.

As the bride, led by her father Canute James, gracefully floated down the aisle in a custom-made Digna Yero design (created of Guipure lace and cotton organdy) towards her equally elegant husband in celebrated Jamaican designer Carlton Brown, the music played. From the Peter Ashbourne string quartet that accompanied TerriKaye down the aisle, to the moving rendition of The Lord's Prayer by Roy 'Gramps' Morgan, of Morgan Heritage, (played as the couple completed the sand ceremony and signed the registry), to Buju Banton’s “Brownin” that played as the newlyweds danced down the aisle, music was an essential part of the day. Of course, this should come as

no surprise – after all Kimani is the founder of Reggae Entertainment Television (RETV).

Intended to give the bride everything that she dreamed of, the venue, under the guidance of decorator Audia Archibald, embodied a fusion of old and new, modern and traditional, the familiar and the exotic. From the altar, composed of two trees hand-strung with 4,000 Phaleonopsis orchid blooms, to the orchid plants that streamed down each banquet-style table, the flower was definitely the motif of the day, blending perfectly with the exquisite white color palette. The tables were elegantly dressed with white voile, under white canopies held in place by bamboo poles, as square lanterns shed a soft glow. Choosing plants instead of cut flowers, the newly-weds gave them away as keepsake gifts after the wedding, and Terri-Kaye even used some to start her own orchid patch, hopefully to bloom each anniversary.

Following the ceremony, and cocktails on the beach (set to a soundtrack of stylish lounge beats) guests moved to dinner, prepared by culinary doyenne, Norma Shirley. From her world-famous lamb, larded with feta and rosemary, sautéed shrimp and lobster, roasted organic corn-fed chicken and poached whole wild salmon, guests were spoiled for choice.

And the entertainment just kept coming. From emcee Bambi Hart who had the guests in stitches, to the heartfelt toasts and dedications (including those of the musical type by The King of The Dancehall, Beenie Man and Voicemail), the love and respect was almost tangible. And when Kimani announced that he would be singing his new wife's favorite song, "I'd Die Without You," by PM Dawn, all boundaries of romance were removed.

But moments into the song, he was interrupted by the man himself, JC The Eternal of PM Dawn, who serenaded the couple as they had their first dance.

It was like a fairytale, one made even more magical by the breathtaking and statuesque Selena Wong creation as a backdrop, overflowing with edible orchids and Stephanotis.

With all the formalities over, the party could really begin. Kimani set things into full swing as he channeled his idol Michael Jackson in an impromptu performance. And still the music played on, and the guests continued to dance, well into the wee hours of morning.

At dawn, the day might have been over, but the bride and groom’s new life together was just starting. And what a beautiful and sweet way to begin.

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interview by Jasmine Dotiwala

a-va-Mariah!

As we go to press, the blogosphere is abuzz with Mariah’s confirmation of her “secret” Bahamas wedding to the dreamy Nick Cannon – matching tattoos and all.

Her latest smoking-hot album E=MC2 remains at the top of the charts, and she’s never looked better (have you seen MC in a bikini lately?!) Yes, lambs, it’s looking pretty fabulous to be Miss (Mrs.?) Mariah Carey these days.

Our own Editor-at-Large Jasmine Dotiwala caught up with her best friend – our cover girl – before the latest media storm, to bring you inside the marvelous world of Mariah Carey. Read on…

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Tel l u s about E=MC² This album, it’s so much about fun and freedom and just the continuation of me feeling emancipated. It’s sort of like emancipation equals Mariah Carey times two. This is me, 100 percent …having fun, just being real.

People ask me all the time: “How do you stay relevant, how do you stay current, how do you make music that people continue to respond to?” You just keep being real, keep being you. Stay true to who you are from the beginning.

How was working on this projec t different from you r last album ?

It’s really interesting because I didn’t know what was going to happen with The Emancipation of Mimi. I was, of course, hoping for success, but the fact that it was such a massive worldwide phenomenon - I was so grateful and thankful to God for that gift and that blessing, that getting back in the studio was really, you know I really prayed to have something that I could be proud of and that I could be really inspired to go in there every day and sing or write a new song.

If Mi mi was di nner, this is dessert?

Me and my friends have a joke about “treat it as dessert” – that’s kind of it’s own little thing that we say. It’s a long story, it’s an inside joke I can’t really say but, yes, if Mimi was dinner, treat this as dessert. Meaning it’s the best part coming up.

D id you tr y an yt hin g n ew thi s ti me a r o un d ?

It’s hard to be really specific about it because music is, it’s in the air, it’s divine inspiration but I think what I did is just try to

express myself from my soul. I tried to express myself from, like, having a sense of humour … and just really being myself. I think that’s the most important thing that for a long time I wasn’t able to do.

When you can listen to your own music and put inside jokes in there, and put things that have been a part of my behind-thescenes life in to a song… fans are getting a glimpse of me the person as well as the artist.

So I think it’s something very new for me.

Wou ld you describe i t as m ore Hip Hop or R &B? It’s so funny because ever since I did my first remix with ODB people have been saying “wow, you’re doing this new hip-hop thing.” And I’m like: it’s not new, its what I’ve always loved, I’m just allowed to do it now.

And a lot of people didn’t know some of those hip-hop collaborations because they didn’t listen to hip-hop radio or buy remixes – I just put the remix record out a few years ago, so some people never got to hear that ‘till then. So now yes there’s a lot of hip hop flavour but there are definitely very powerfully sung, emotionally rich ballads.

Some of these records are so powerful in terms of where they’re coming from lyrically, the way that I just sang them: one time and that was it.

Reminiscent of some times a long time ago when I would sing a song one time and just leave it and that was it because the emotion was there. And I think that’s what’s different about this record to maybe the past few albums.

Where did you record the al bum?

I recorded in a lot of places… Let’s say

I’m working with a big producer, I’m working on a track, I’ll go to where they are usually, where they are inspired, and then I’ll take the track and go sing someplace like Capri or maybe Florida. I spent a lot of time in St. Martin, all different places this time on this record.

Why did you create the Emancipation of Mimi Live DVD ?

I just wanted to share something different with the fans this time. I wanted to allow the cameras backstage; I wanted people to be able to see the dressing rooms and what that’s like. I wanted everybody to be able to feel like they were with us on tour.

Not just seeing the show but, you know, behind the scenes, feel like they’re part of the show, feel like … we’re all like one big family.

My fans are part of my family.

And the karaoke featu re on the DVD? It’s been really amazing for me to watch how karaoke has become so popular around the world…. It’s fun and … its cute – its something fun to do.

Did you take a break after your last tour?

I actually did take a break and worked on an independent film called Tennessee (2008). I was very, very grateful to be offered that role of Krystal…

The producer Lee Daniels [has] worked on so many incredible movies - obviously his biggest success being Monster’s Ball, such a wonderful performance by Halle Berry which she won an Oscar for.

I was just very fortunate to even meet Lee and to be able to work with him and everybody on Tennessee… guess I worked

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on that movie for a couple of months and after the movie I went straight into – it was really important for me to get right back in the studio.

I felt like I’d taken a break from being Mariah Carey, I’d taken a break from being on tour because, even though I was still working on a movie, it’s not the same as being in the studio. I love creating songs, and working in the studio, and putting that music out there for my fans.

Tel l us abou t your new fragrance, M by Mariah Carey.

I was so excited to work on a fragrance because I’ve never even worn a fragrance before. I’ve never liked perfume until I started talking to the people at Elizabeth Arden about working together on a fragrance. It’s called M and its my favourite, favourite scent of all time.

How did you cr eate a fra granc e whil e working on new albu m?

I was very busy in the studio so it was really tough for me to take on a big project but ... we had a really great time and it was just something I wanted to share with my fans.

W h a t w a s t h e i n s p ir a t i o n b e h i n d t h e fragrance?

I guess it’s inspired by a lot of different parts of my life: childhood, different vacations and places where I’ve been in my life. I don’t know if they do this all over the world but in America we have different things like campfires and fun things like that when we’re little kids and so it reminded me of

toasting marshmallows over the campfire – that’s just a little fun thing that kids do at camp and so that was one memory.

And then of course the beautiful fragrance of the Tiare flower, as well as the low note in the fragrance – the more sultry, sexy, sensual part of the fragrance which is like a Moroccan incense.

So it’s all different types of feelings that are combined to make you, when you smell the fragrance it just evokes different feelings. You know, its very sensual it also brings you back to different memories and the floral Tiera note is just wonderfully beautiful.

Touch My Body - This is so amazing to feel how fast ‘Touch My Body’s’ exploding all around the world – I’m just so thankful because it’s a song that I love so much, a song that really does express my personality, and I feel like you hear that song, you watch the video, you get a little bit of a glimpse of who I am as a person.

Last Kiss - When I hear that song … I feel like an eight-year-old kid – I’m like, OK this is me as a little girl singing. I was playing it at a party for a friend of mine who happened to have Quicy Jones as one of her guests there … and Quincy asked me to rewind that song and play it over.

And I said, “Well, he is Quincy Jones!

Thriller and Off The Wall, and if he’s asking me to play as song over I should pretty much take that as a humongous compliment!” And I did, and it makes me really happy ‘cos that’s my favourite song.

Bye Bye - Sometimes when I’m writing a song like Bye Bye it does come from such a raw place that I’m, like, I’m actually crying while writing it, or thinking about it. But sometimes I will hear it and feel like this is gonna touch a lot of people. That’s why it’s important that no matter what’s ever happened to me over my career that I stay the course, and continue to write and try and reach people. Because I know that I’m one of those people, and when someone does that and they write something that touches me I’m indebted to them forever.

For The R eco rd - One of my favourite songs on this album. It’s one of those songs that the people who really are fans of mine, who really know my music really well, tend to gravitate towards because it’s – not only is it kind of a real life story but I’ve used a lot of my own songs in the bridge to tell the story. Towards the actor I say “for the record you’ll always be a part of me, you’ll always be my baby.” And I kind of go through “can’t nobody say I didn’t give my all to you.” The real fans who listen and then hear “I told you underneath the stars” they’ll know that’s for them. I’m really happy that people are feeling this song.

Love Story - I love Jermaine Dupri as a person and I love him as a fan, I’m a fan of his work.

One of the funny things about Jermaine is when I say something to him, he just runs with it. I said on the beginning of Love Story I really want this beat to be hard, make this for the jeeps, do not make this too soft. I wanna stay true to what I love most which is urban music and R&B music, and I feel that’s the same thing that JD loves.

Thanks For Nothing - It was the first ballad I wrote for this album. This song is gonna resonate with people who are really going through a bleak moment in their relationship where its like ‘yeah, its fantastic, thanks for nothing.’ You know what that is, I mean I’m being very sarcastic; it’s a sarcastic moment in the land of Mariah Carey songs.

I Wish You Well - This is in the tradition of songs like, I would say, Outside I am Free - visual album cuts from different albums that all those people who aren’t really fans won’t know.

Basically it’s about coming to a place within yourself where you, no matter what somebody does to you, you can forgive them. And even if you’re a little bit bitter about it you say your piece and you let it go.

OCEAN COCKTAIL

ey readers! Long time! I know Christmas was a while ago but in honour of the cover star of this month’s OCEAN STYLE MAG I thought I’d spread some off-season Christmas cheer. While you were basking on sandy beaches I was living a real Christmas card with my ‘’Christmas cousin” Mariah!

I began my adventure at Mariah’s NY home where seven Escalades picked us and our ginormous luggage up and sped us to a private air field. Two private jets (G5's) awaited us, completely ready for the holiday season already covered in Christmas decorations, and eggnog with champers was served to get us into the spirit.

We arrived in Aspen to deep powdery snow and the biggest house I've ever seen. Right outside my bedroom were huge Xmas fir trees draped with twinkling Xmas lights and on a few mornings I watched real reindeer just chillin outside my bedroom window. It was spectacular!

Highlights of our countdown to Christmas: - Xmas music all holiday- it’s an MC tradition!

- Eating all the good things that our chef whipped up - all in front of MC who wasn't allowed to indulge at all as she was shooting a video New Years week for her new album, which is totally off the hook! I spent all holiday listening to it as MC sang parts to me, explained slick verses and choruses with double entendres and really it was like the best kinda listening party u could ever wish for!!

- The day MC threw all the diva rumours out in the snow (and we all know that she can surely diva it up!), sat me back in her makeup chair and gave me a facial - yes really!

- The annual "Denver Children’s Charity" evening where 100 under privileged kids are treated to snowboarding, skiing, dinner, games and fun before MC arrives with Santa and his sleigh of reindeer and gives gifts and takes photos with them - many of them have heartbreaking stories and energy and this always makes us count our blessings and put our own lives in perspective.

- Xmas eve - MC's pastor, bishop Clarence Keaton, and his wife Eartha flew in from NYC to give us some Brooklyn flavour, bring us the realness, pray with us and host a midnight service at the local church (although by the time we arrived it was around 1am! Oops! He forgave us though!)

- Xmas day - we slept in until noon then hit the hot tub for some festive Xmas morning champers as it snowed on us with our bikinis, shades and Santa hats.

- Our traditional sleigh ride with hot cocoa, elks watching us, stars shining down on us and moon watching -- bliss!

- Opening all MC's cards and gifts from her fans, which were as creative and as thoughtful as ever. (Quick thought whilst I remember…please don't write "merry Xmas" to MC instead of "merry Christmas" as she doesn't like to take the "Christ" out of "Christmas" as this season is already over commercialised.)

Then we packed our bags and got ready for Vegas where MC was hosting our New Years Eve party!

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Is it mor e fu n t o be you now t h a n in t h e p a s t ?

Yes it’s definitely a lot more fun being “Mariah Carey” [now] than it was when I first started out … I was very young and people were kind of bossing me around and telling me what to do and it was more difficult to be myself.

But, now, being able to make the music that I love … whether its singing a big ballad or doing an up-temp record that makes me happy – it’s up to me to do what I want, and so it’s fun.

Mariah dishes on tracks from E=MC² Migrate - This is just a fun, festive song. …

It’s about keeping it moving and having a good time. Every time I go into the studio, if I’m inspired by the track I’m working on and if I’ve put so much of myself into the record, at the end of the day I want it to be the most fun explosion of music that I can make.

Jasmine Dotiwala’s

Straight off jet to our rooms at the Venetian with enough time to pee, un-pack and party! We hit Jay-Z's party at the 40 40 club in the Palazzo Hotel. It was great timing as we arrived alongside Jay and Beyonce.

Next night it was MC's New Years Eve party in club Tao at The Venetian Hotel where in all our pre celebration hysterical antics in her suite we only just hit the club seconds before she had to countdown to midnight!

We all danced until 5am with Suge on one side of me and MC and Brat on another - it was a legendary hip-hop dream! We staggered back to MC's suite and I mean staggered as my feet were done. Can you believe MC's security didn't want to carry me? Something about being here to look after MC not my feet! Outrageous! After Maine Lobster breakfast at 8am, bed for 3 hours before we all jumped on a flight to the Bahamas on New Years Day. It was the third and final part of our adventure.

Except it wasn’t. After landing at the wrong airport, we finally arrived at MC’s home that only be described as Paradise. The beach is all covered in… are you even ready for this.....pink sand!

Very appropriate for our Princess right?

But alas - all isn't always peace in heaven and moments later the rain came and it was actually cold. Yes. Cold. In the Bahamas.

Now - for you and I and most folks - we would make the most of our wet vacation.

Mariah isn't "most people". "I know,’’ she declared,-‘’Lets go to Jack’s favourite spot Puerto Rico!" So we repack, jump back on her jet and whiz off to San Juan, pretty much in the same way I'd catch a 207 bus from Southall to Shepherds Bush.

Four hours later we touch down in Puerto Rico and sailed out to one of MC’s most favourite places in the world – the island where she filmed the video for her classic worldwide smash hit "Honey". We always refer to the deserted island as the "Honey Island". It was tiny, tranquil, and the turquoise sea around it reminded me of one of my favourite places in the world - Trinidad! MC’s personal trainer (Patricia from St Barts) had me, MC and Da Brat in the water doing hours of water exercises until the moon came up. We love doing this so much, even when it rains we stay in the sea and mermaid onwards.

When my 3 weeks of VIP-dom were up I practically had to be pried off MC’s jet as I gripped onto the plush, padded leather seats.

But after much soothing and coaxing from her that we would see each other again soon, I reluctantly wafted down the jet steps back to my normal real life Blissfully steering my luggage cart through customs at JFK airport I knew all my senses must have been tranquilly tweaked because as the New York airwaves breathed life into my cell phone and gadgets I noted 3.000 unread e-mails on my Blackberry and didn’t flinch.

Back in London now my neck smells of Mariah, my wrists smell of P Diddy and my feet smell of Usher - not because I've been having a rambunctious orgy with hip-hop superstars but because I'm trying out all their fragrances, body lotions and foot creams - call it a bizarre need to use up all my goodie bags at once - I’ve turned into Willamina Slater from Ugly Betty - I want it all and I want it now! What a fabulous way to begin the year - by losing my mind!! www.oceanstylemagazine.com

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Stonefield Estate

ST. LUCIA’S

STYLISH Stonefield Estate

BAL ANCE Brenda Fine

t’s an all-too-familiar scenario: One day you’re relaxing in blissful peace on your favorite small beach. And the next day an invasion of bulldozers roars in, demolishing the palms (and the peace) to make way for the next mega resort and golf complex. Is this really progress? Is this inevitable?

OK, we get it that the realties of economics makes it hard to resist the siren song of international investors and developers. But those of us who prefer our Caribbean a bit more “old ways” can rejoice that at least one island is aiming to reach a balance, to achieve the yin and yang of tourism.

St. Lucia is developing a creative solution that embraces both sides of the tourism coin, making it possible (and profitable) for high-end luxury to co-exist with the island’s more traditional Caribbean ways.

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Coco Resorts

“We call it ‘Village Tourism,’ ” explains Allen Chastanet, the island’s dynamic new Minister of Tourism and Aviation. It’s an innovative grass- roots project that works like this: “While heartily welcoming the abundance of posh world-class resorts,” (note: heading up this world-class A List are such heavy-hitters as Ritz-Carlton, Raffles Resort, Rockresorts’ The Landings, Westin’s Le Paradise Beach and Golf & Marina Resort) “we’re also dedicated to growing our dozen-or-so traditional fishing communities into attractive tourist venues. The goal is for each village to build on its own unique style so that tourism can become part of the mix, adding another element of community integrity.”

“It’s all about that old buzzword ‘sustainability,’ but this time it’s actually working,” continues Chastanet. “Everyone in the community benefits. As visitor-friendly adjustments are added, villagers begin to reap immediate benefits from these new shops, restaurants and small hotels. And the visitors get to appreciate the sense of community as they stroll the streets, attend the outdoor music and food festivals, and get to know the local people.

“This concept isn’t really new. Look at the south of France, the coast of Spain,” says Chastanet. “Small villages all over Europe have succeeded in this balance that maintains the integrity of the village while also encouraging tourism. What we (as government) have to do is provide the catalyst and help our local villagers realize this concept.”

Chastanet personally set the standard with his Coco Resorts in Rodney Bay Village. He started with Coco Kreole, a small boutique hotel that embraces and enhances traditional West Indian values. More recently, Chastanet opened Coco Palm, another affordably priced, small hotel that’s big on charm and value. (Fodor’s Guide says it offers “five-star service at three-star prices.”) Neither hotel has a restaurant, a deliberate decision that encourages hotel guests to go out into the

Rodney Bay community and dine in the dozens of excellent restaurants that are all within walking distance.

And talk about diversity!

“Restaurant row” lets you globetrot between such cuisines as Memories of Hong Kong, Razmataz (Indian tandoori), The Chart House (seafood), and The Lime, a casual bistro featuring St. Lucian favorites and designed for limin.’ Live outdoor entertainment and the glorious stretch of Reduit Beach are all part of attractions of this small village.

Other St Lucians, too, are hitching their personal futures to St. Lucia’s rising star. Native St. Lucian Nick Pinnock has returned home after shuttling around the globe for a bit, dedicated to the idea of nurturing and growing this new kind of tourism. A “trickle-down” sort of tourism, he firmly believes, is good for the island as well as for the visitor.

Pinnock’s contribution: Ti Kaye, a small resort he designed and built on a piece of hilltop property he bought years ago purely as an investment. “I was planning to hold onto it for a while and then sell it for a big profit, but gradually I fell in love with it,” smiles Pinnock. The sea views from his west coast hillside, high above Anse Cochon, were so glorious he soon realized this was a dream setting for a resort. That dream manifested is Ti Kaye (Creole for small house), which consists of 33 freestanding West Indian-style cottages, each with an airy design incorporating outdoor garden showers and wrap-around verandahs with drop-dead views of the sea far below. And romantic sunsets to die for. Nothing at Ti Kaye is large-scale or glittery, just classically Caribbean and welcoming.

And, as tangible proof that small can co-exist with mega, Ti Kaye is wildly successful, garnering kudos in all the glossy travel magazines and attracting visitors who seem delighted to trade high-end glitz for Ti Kaye’s island-style comfort and charm.

Coco Resorts

Stonefield Estate

Coco Resorts

Stonefield Estate

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Ti Kaye

St Lucia’s scalloped coastlines and verdant hillsides are dotted with more local success stories. Stonefield Estate, a former cocoa plantation near the southwestern village of Soufriere, has been the Brown family home for more than 30 years. A few years ago the family decided to turn the family estate into a small hotel, augmenting the original rooms in the Great House with 20 hillside villas. Taking full advantage of the awesome views of that nearby monolith, the 2,619foot-high Petit Piton, the Browns have designed every villa to feature up-close views of this mountain-like World Heritage Site. The bigscreen version of this view of Petit Piton in all its panoramic glory is an integral part of the mango tree-shaded dining terrace and pool up at the Great House.

Not all St. Lucians chose to build hotels on their ancestral land.

Some families invite visitors to share in their island bounty in other ways. The Devaux family, for example, has a most unusual history that also underscores the island’s most unusual history.

During colonial times, France and England fought the prize of St. Lucia. Each of them won - over and over. Amazingly, control of this island changed hands 14 times, as the two European powers struggled to “own” this strategic West Indian island. Although Great Britain ultimately “won”, Gallic influences in island cuisine, speech and that certain je ne sais quoi still remain.

The Devaux family’s hold on their estate in Soufriere dates back to 1713, when King Louis XIV granted a parcel of plantation land as a reward for loyalty to three titled brothers who fought in his army. Joan Devout, the current generation’s descendant, worked in close partnership with Mother Nature to create Diamond Botanical Gardens, a lushly glorious showcase featuring the Caribbean’s splashiest plants and flowers. Today’s visitors can wander the estate, learning about and enjoying color riots of heliconia, ginger lilies, birds of paradise, orchids and tropical fruit trees.

A famous mineral waterfall cascades through the plantation, its mineral-rich waters believed to hold healing properties. King Louis XIV himself commissioned the construction of a series of baths, simi-

lar to those in Aix-les-Bains in France. Today, two of these baths have been completely restored. You can sit and soak in the warm soothing waters, as you watch the hummingbirds flit from flower to flower, and listen to the winds ruffle the shaggy-headed palms.

The natural beauty of this gorgeous island in the Lesser Antilles – rainforests, waterfalls, beaches of white and black sands and, of course, the iconic Pitons rising abruptly from the sea – has attracted a bevy of international resorts of the highest pedigree.

So, in addition to the international-brand resorts and the small village hotels, vacationers can also jet down to luxuriate in such truly unique St. Lucian settings as Jade Mountain and Ladera, both of which take full advantage of the dramatic “missing wall” style of architecture.

These three-walled mountaintop suites provide jaw-dropping drama – the vast open-air space (where the fourth wall should be) brings immense panoramic vistas of the sea, the Pitons, and the far horizon right into the living room. And yes, of course, there are sexy in-room infinity pools, all the better for vista gazing.

Another new arrival, the lavish Discovery at Marigot Bay, appeals not only to deep-pocketed holidaymakers, but to international yachties as well. In high season, the marina fronting the resort becomes a floating parking lot; every slip filled with expanses of gleaming mega yachts from foreign ports all over the world.

These high-end resorts may seem a far cry from “village tourism,” but every St. Lucia resort, big or small, does its bit to encourage visitors to get out on the island and experience what St. Lucia is all about.

Granted, some of the roads are a bit hair-raising (especially to those tourists more accustomed to well-manicured highways), but a sturdy 4x4 goes a long way towards equalizing some of those potholes. And the rewards to be found “out on island” –the iconic Pitons for perhaps the ultimate in challenging climbs, the unique drive-through volcano, the drop-dead-gorgeous rainforests, and perhaps a “Tranopy” (combination tram and zip-line) ride through the forest canopy, plus some of the best scuba dive sites in the Caribbean – all contribute to making St Lucia an island of style as well as beautiful balance.

Ti Kaye

Ti Kaye

P I R AT E TALES photography by Dagmara

here was a time when a remote island held more danger than mystery‌ when human savagery was the norm, not the exception. Yet in the midst of violence and inhumanity, there was also a time when the sheer beauty, magnificence and isolation of a pristine mass of white sand could enjoy an unfettered dance with the crystal clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Remote, isolated beauty becomes one with measured sophistication and high fashion in this tale of Piracy, set in the glorious locale that is Royal Plantation Island (Fowl Cay, The Exumas, Bahamas).

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OCEAN STYLE jacket and pant by Jean-Paul Gautier leather eyepiece by Heather Huey

LEAD PAGE cropped vest by Q by McQueen bra top by La Perla THIS PAGE blouse with lace overlay by Boudicca headpiece by Heather Huey

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OCEAN STYLE printed dress with net sleeves by Jean-Paul Gautier leather eyepiece by Heather Huey

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THIS PAGE black dress with lace sleeves by Boudicca NEXT PAGE crotchet dress by Jean-Paul Gautier floral neckpiece by Boudicca black leather arm piece by Boudicca

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OCEAN STYLE blouse by Anna Sui stripped skirt by Jean-Paul Gautier

crotchet dress by Jean-Paul Gautier floral neckpiece by Boudicca black leather arm piece by Boudicca

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blouse with lace overlay by Boudicca headpiece by Heather Huey

O N S P OT Hyatt Trin id ad Formal La unch

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April 2008

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Photography by Dagmara @dagmaraphotography.com Fashion Editor: Carlton Jones @carltonjonesNYC.com Assissted by Michou Hair and make-up by Harper @ fordmodels.com Assisted by Erin O'Connell

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FAITH

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(NOUN): BELIEF THAT IS NOT BASED ON PROOF

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Credits: Image shot by Link Roberts in the beautiful island of Tobago / Trinidad and Tobago

Faith is taking the first step even when you don1t see the whole staircase.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.