THIS IS IT ! THIS IS IT! Us $4.99 | Uk £3.00 | Canada $5.50
The Best of
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On Spot
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Escape
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Carnival!
aldives. Travel Editor Brenda Fine is on a global quest to identify M perfect sand and perfect beaches. She takes Ocean Style along for the ride.
46 body&soul Play therapy. Karen Holly Berliner shows why ‘work hard’ should be matched with play (or relax) hard.
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Bloody Good Stuff
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Escape Regatta Fever: A delightful union of world-class event and
Bloody Good Stuff! [gadgets+tech] Vivienne Tam for HP
destination. Welcoming competitors from across the globe, the annual races are now approaching their 40th year.
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aneel Bay. Nature’s Essence. At Caneel Bay in St. John the C pristine meets the elegant. But leave your blackberry at home (if you don’t want it taken away). The purity of nature co-exists with the enjoyment of understated luxury in this resort.
Contents 18
EDITORS NOTE
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Letters to Editor
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Contributors
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On Spot
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Beauty Page: That’s Why they call it the Blues
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Fashion Stop: Catching Up with Anna Henriques
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Ocean Style Online
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My Beauty Secrets: Soraya Ho-Sing-Loy
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Bloody Good Stuff
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finance
Profile: Raquel Dadlani
Corseted Romance
My Money: To-Dos to get your life together!
C O N T E N T S 58
body & soul - health
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Wine & Dine
House Call – Health Answers from Dr. Lofters.
Drinks. Try this Pomegranate Martini on for size.
63 On Spot Fashion Showcase & OCEAN STYLE/ESPN Golf Invitational
70 Cover Story: The Invincible Michael Jackson. In death, as in life, his musical genius outshines his inspiring humanity. In his passing the world rekindled their love affair with the true essence of MJ – his sheer musical genius.
76 body & soul Fitness Expert Mark Jenkins Reveals the Secrets to Beyonce's Incredible Legs
Fashion 79 Curacao Casual: Rich vibrant imagery from photographer Ron Contarsy. Shot in the charismatic locale that is Curacao.
89 Coffee Shop: Some highlights from the weekly a regular feature in Ocean Splash! where Editor Chie Davis interviews personalities and celebrities. A sampling of interview extracts with Meiling, Freddie Leiba and Susha Patel.
90 Weekend Getaway: This fashion editorial was shot in picturesque Barbados by Robert Manella.
99 money Money & Investing: For Better or For Worse – Newlywed Financial Advice from Wells Fargo.
100 Wine & Dine Khalid Mohammed latest and to date, greatest, culinary stage brings top shelf cuisine to the heart of Port of Spain.
102 Recipe: Guava BBQ Diver Scallops. 104 Fashion. Turks and Caicos plays host to the captivating photography of Julia Pogodina.
114 Ciao Bella
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www.freixenet.es
Editor in Chief
Douglas K. Gordon Editor in Chief Managing Editor - April Daniels Hussar
Douglas K. Gordon
Art Director - Diego Mantilla Managing Editor Fashion Director - Brigitte Segura Dominique Jackman Director Of Photography - Robert Manella Beauty Editor - Isabelle Tin-Aung Editor At Large - Jasmine Dotiwala Fashion + lifestyle – (text + photos) Editor At of Large - Novia Mcdonald-Whyte Director Photography – Robert Manella Copy Editor - Sarah Tenney Beauty Editor – Isabelle Tin-Aung Contributors
Dagmara, Anika Repole, Michelle Jones, Contributors (textAl + Alschuler, photos) Colin Williams, Onika Nkrumah, Patty French, Deborah Grisham, Linda Harper, Mindi brenda karen holly berliner, deborah pogodina, Smith,fine, Al Alschuler, Warren Mottley, Theogrisham, Faulkner,julia Ruben Torres,dina yassin, annettaMark klemens, brigitte segura, carlton ric matthews, Linda Harper, Jenkins, Preston Bailey, Allisonjones, Kilkenny, Retna, Mckenzie Repole, Deston Nokes, ron Tanya Lee, Vanessa Chris, rosemary James, redline,Anika martha birdsong dunning, contarsy, seth karecha, Marie Field, Dominique Jackman, Chie Davis and Calvin French christie dinham, corinne lucquiaud, rita shin, merrell hollis, rochelle rowewalters, lisa Jackson, mark jenkins,Daniel theo faulkner, linda harper, mckenzie Website: Smith Webmaster: james, chie davis,Andrew calvin Manswell french, pixxera Advertising Design: Antony Hepworth Editorial Intern: Juvie Jean-Baptiste Art + DesignBob + Layout Administration: Sukesh Art Direction and Production:
Letters To The Editor: Blue Wolf Designs / S Harikrishna - MPS editor@oceanstylemagazine.com
Sales or story pitches? Do you have editorial Advertising submissions, feedback editor@oceanstylemagazine.com Director of Sales Ky-Ann Phillip-Rowe 305-731-2145 Sales x 105 (t) Advertising VP Sales & Marketing - Brian Chin(e) kyann@oceanstylemagazine.com brian.chin@oceanstylemagazine.com VP Sales & Marketing Brian Chin Sales Executive – Alethea Brown 305-731-2145 x 104 (t) brian.chin@oceanstylemagazine.com (e) Representatives Media Network International (Miami, FL) Media Network (Miami, FL) Caryn TanisInternational (305) 234-0005 Caryn Tanis 305.234.0005 (t) Kathy Courshon (561) 488-4495 caryn@medianetinternational.com (e) Integrated Solutions (Chicago, KathyMedia Courshon 561.488-4495 (t) IL) John Cater (312) 214-6113(e) kcourshon@bellsouth.net
VP Distribution - John Blassingame OCEAN STYLE TV / VP Broadcast Media Chie Davis VP PR & Marketing - Jodi Elliston (800) 385-8108 VPSubscriptions: Broadcast Media - Chie Davis subscribe@oceanstylemagazine.com Web: www.oceanstylemagazine.com/subscribe Subscriptions Facebook: www.facebook.com/oceanstylemagazine Ph: (800) 385-8108 subscribe@oceanstylemagazine.com Administration: John Varghese l Sherise Coombs www.oceanstylemagazine.com/subscribe Publisher
Wolf Wolf Media,Media, Inc. Inc. PublishedBlue by Blue VP Finance & Operations - Stewart Jones VP Finance & Operations - Stewart Jones info@oceanstylemagazine.com Corporate Office: 1152 North University Drive, Suite 301-303. Tel33024 305-731-2145 Fax 305-395-5195 Pembroke Pines, FL | Ph: 305-731-2145 | Fax: 305-395-5195 info@oceanstylemagazine.com Corporate Office: 3350 SW 148 Avenue, Suite 203, FL 33027 Regional Office:may 1 Ardenne Road, Kingston, No part of Ocean Style Magazine be reproduced in any form or byJamaica any means without prior written from Blue Wolf Media, For additional reprint pleasewithout contact us No partconsent of Ocean Style Magazine may Inc. be reproduced in any forminformation, or by any means prior writtenatconsent from Blue Wolf Media, Inc. reprint information, info@oceanstylemagazine.com or For fax additional us at 305-395-5195. please contact us at info@oceanstylemagazine.com or fax us at 305-395-5195.
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From the editor "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark." —Michelangelo, Artist
Why ‘This is It!’? Two very opposite meanings come to mind with those three words. The pessimistic perspective suggesting the proverbial ‘final nail in the coffin’ and the other, and the one I am more inclined to subscribe to, the turning of a corner and harbinger of exciting things to come! In my mind, the choice of MJ for the cover offered us an opportunity to align some of our ambitions with arguably the boldest move of his career. After all, while an icon based on his many years of success, he had in recent times come to be regarded more for his ‘celebrity’ than his incredible talent. Yet here he was making the bold statement that ‘This is It!’ would be his final live tour. Whether we really believed that it would be his last or not, the fact is, and as attested to by the movie of the same name which documented the preparation for this seminal event, MJ was about to put his everything into this tour. Most critically, for MJ, as the movie showed, this tour was not about being a testament to his rich past; it was a celebration of his present and an indication of his future. Here he was at 49 about to undertake what for a young person was an incredibly grueling performance schedule and he embraced the opportunity with seeming relish and the enthusiasm of someone who was finally going to allow his performance, his talent, his vocation to re-define him. And it is with first the humbling disclaimer that our goals are fully divorced from the lofty achievements of MJ; instead the lesson we take is that sometimes you need to take a bold step not just for those on the outside looking on (whether in support or opposition of what you stand for and what you’re trying to do) but also because it can serve both as a wakeup call and a source of tremendous motivation. In a more specific reference to our publication, we embrace the ‘This is It!’ slogan as a sign that we are coming into our own as a publication and media entity. We have in the pages of this issue comprehensively covered the Caribbean a manner that reflects our mission and for that I feel a great deal of excitement. In this issue from journalists to photographers, resorts to services, the expansion of our editorial has been greatly facilitated by the number of entities who have gravitated to the publication and our readership. My task, and one for which I am grateful, is to continue to shepherd our editorial in a manner that resonates with a readership that knows and enjoys a Caribbean that is at once relaxed and sophisticated, modern yet traditional. We strive to continue to bring that perspective to our readers based in the US, UK, Toronto and throughout the Caribbean. The last twelve months have been quite a roller-coaster. The financial challenges posed to our business in the midst of the dramatic falloff in the economy, took us instantly to survival mode. While circumstances dictated that we scale back many of our plans, they also presented us with other opportunities that we seized, even as they represented ‘expansion’. We feel that this issue and where Ocean Style as a brand and company presently sit that it is time to look forward and boldly embrace that ambitious future. Are we prepared? Are we right about the mix of
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content and talent of our contributors to engage the targeted audience and deliver an interesting and quality publication? Are we correct about our entry into Television and the format of our show? And what of our events; are our Fashion Showcase and Golf Invitational truly of an international standard – worthy of the promotion and attendance of some of our clientele? Are we worthy of partnerships with companies as highly regarded and brand aware as ESPN? Sandals? Half Moon?
We have come so far … and yet there is so far left to go! It’s not an original sentiment and yet is truly summarizes the position of Ocean Style as we reflect on our journey and embrace our future. While the currency of many of the most successful businesses, capital, to pounce on opportunity in the face of contraction, was not ours we were not lacking for ideas, enthusiasm and perseverance. And I am happy to say that while staying focused on our audience and our mission that the company we are today is a lot more focused with greater opportunities than ever before. The road ahead promises nothing rosy but it does promise more than it did at this stage last year and that is, all things being considered, remarkable. Our intention, and I wish to make this clear, is not to brag or showoff about ‘positive steps’ (as that is all they are) but to maybe raise our own bar a little bit by placing into the public domain some of what we wish to be. We hope against hope that our mix of enthusiasm for our subject matter and our readers and our good fortune with any number of talented and accomplished contributors and partners really does allow us to signal that for our brand, our ambitions and our business that after the perseverance, focus, ‘never say die’ and some of our modest successes that this really does represent a time when we will not be cowed by the challenges or retreat in the face of the obstacles but instead we will remain firm in the pursuit of our goals and focus on delivering the results that show we are ready for a bright and successful future. We will continue to push forward, seeking to capture the elements that distinguish Ocean Style as the foremost authority on the good life in the Caribbean. As lofty as our ambitions may be we are also sufficiently grounded to know that it is only through the valued critique of our audience that we will be judged. In other words, in this moment,
This is It!
letters to the Editor
Obama Mania As a collector of Obama images and imagery, I must commend you on your cover’s design. Your cover really stood out on the newsstand – that is how I managed to pick up an issue as I am not a regular reader. Your cover: President Barack Obama without a tie for me symbolizes the need for all of us even the President to take off the tie and roll up our sleeves and get to the real work of rebuilding America, managed to capture what the Obama Presidency means to those who voted for him: hope for the future but not without hard work. –Elizabeth, New York
Sun, Sea, Sand and Slavery? Thank you Ocean Style Magazine for the piece by Deston Nokes on Curacao’s Museum Kura Hulanda. I have visited the ABC islands several times over the past decade and somehow overlooked this institution. In fact many of my native friends were unaware of its existence and of their country’s role in the triangle trade. I really enjoy features such as these that educate readers about the history of the region especially as it relates to the To punish slaves, they would be locked history of slavery and the continuing imporin this metal chair and put out in the tance of the Caribbean to the economy of sun. The heat would be intense. the US rather than just pr omoting the image of the tropical paradise. The history of the Caribbean is more blood, sweat and tears than sun, sea and sand. Thank you OSM for presenting more than the usual clichéd images of the Caribbean Diaspora. –Janette, Miami
Ocean Style Online: beyond the pages of the magazine - The ultimate paperless online reading experience. Super Eco friendly too!
I love reading magazines but lately I’ve been feeling very guilty because of the amount of paper they use even when I recycle them. My latest obsession – your website! That you have put the actual magazine with pages that I can
“turn”, online and back issues too! Genius! From what I have seen your publication is the only one that offers this feature – Vogue, Bazaar, Elle please take note. In this age where we need to watch our paper consumption and where media houses have to reexamine how to keep up in this increasingly online wireless paperless world, you have succeeded in making the transition – I love reading magazines but I hate scrolling through articles on the web. Your site offers the best of both worlds. I also enjoy your weekly newsletter. Keep up the good work! –Stacey, Barbados
Sneak
peek
➤T hanks for the sneak peek...Now I just perused it; so that’s just my ‘at a glance feedback’...but overall A+ as usual. ➤ Loving the cover; it’s so vibrant and alive... ➤ I think Richard Thompson should have gotten his own space in the Beijing top ten. ➤ I liked the Grecian dress on pg 52 :-) ➤ The Preston Bailey feature was informative and makes you realize how simple it is to do stuff like that at home. ➤ The Port Antonio shoot was lovely… very surreal. ➤ Wish the trip to Sandals was for solo people so I could enter lol!! ➤ Liked the mating rituals article: trying to figure out if I am the devilish dolphin or the beautiful butterfly. ➤ Liked the slavery article; that was nice and DIFFERENT from the run of the mill... ➤ The Sumfest et al article was a good read. ➤ I need to read that Kiss and Run book...
our contributors
Patricia Meschino
Julia Pogodina
K y- A n n P hillip- Rowe
Patricia Meschino has been writing about Caribbean music and culture for almost 20 years. She is a contributor to Billboard Magazine, the music editor of Air Jamaica’s Sky Writings magazine and a former staff writer at Bobmarley.com. She has freelanced for various media houses including The Associated Press, Vibe, The Source, The Miami New Times, Jamrock Magazine and the UK’s Red Bulletin.
In 2005 Julia Pogodina moved from Moscow to New York to pursue her dream. After 7 years of being a corporate lawyer she quit her office job and became a freelance fashion/beauty photographer. Her pictures stand out for their vibrant tones, accurate compositions, dreamy locations, and the edgy elegance combined with strong sensuality that she manages to capture with each model.
From the age of 10, Ky-Ann Phillip-Rowe knew she was destined for a career in finance. Growing up with business-oriented parents there was ample opportunity to expand and challenge her budding financial acumen.
Pogodina played with a sense of balance and geometrics in this issue of Ocean Style when photographing Jamaican model, Lisa Jackson (former America’s Next Top Model contestant), for Lines Solitaire – a fashion editorial.
With her early career taking her to Deutsche Bank Securities and Morgan Stanley on Wall Street, she presently enjoys life as a financial advisor with the Wellins Dubler Group of Wells Fargo Advisors in Coral Springs, FL. There she focuses on helping individuals and businesses develop sound financial and investment strategies in line with their needs, goals and risk tolerance. Her spare minutes are absorbed with her family, charities and her passion for dominoes.
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LIFE Style FEATure FEATure [New York]
PROFILE Raquel Dadlani Home: Montego Bay, Jamaica Originally from the South Caribbean, this Trinidad and Tobago native has come to call Montego Bay, Jamaica home for the past 15 years where she lives with her husband, Aroon and their two kids. When she isn’t caring for her two year old twin sons, Anand and Ameer, the 40 year old businesswoman spends her time helping her husband and his brother run their Casa De Oro chain of duty free stores and seeks to grow her newest venture Movers and Shakers with friend and business partner, Stacey Chung. Movers and Shakers is a boutique artist management agency that offers its clients consulting and branding services in addition to the usual management services. They presently work with a number of top reggae artists including Beenie Man, Cecile and Spice. At Casa de Oro the business day is anchored amongst the luxury of brands such as Cartier, Tiffany, Roberto Coin and Vacheron Constantin to name but a few. But regardless of the new trinkets these high end jewelers offer each year her favorite remains the Cartier watch her husband gave her four years after they started dating. Balancing the demands of the fastpaced music industry and those of a dynamic retail company (on top of two young kids) would test the most seasoned of businesspeople, yet Raquel somehow manages to juggle the load with her signature elegance and charm, and an infectious smile. UP NEXT: This modern day entrepreneur strives to excel in both her business ventures while seeking the best for her family. When she isn’t working, relaxation in Jamaica takes place at The Caves in Negril, though she regularly ventures with Aroon to Trinidad for the annual Carnival. What are Raquel tips for living a ‘fabulous life’? “Live, laugh, love and be honest.” Photographer: Robert Manella
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beauty BEAUTY
l B ues...
And That’s Why They Call It The
By Isabelle Tin-Aung
Dark as night, adding a midnight shade of blue to your eyelid can do everything to your look except dampen those spirits…
Red Earth Illusion Lights Beauty Pro Eye shadow in Stormy Night The Australian makeup brand has forty shades of Illusion Lights eye shadow packed with light reflecting minerals, creating an iridescent shimmer. Use night or day, wet or dry. $14.50, www.ulta.com
Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Deep Night
Givenchy Prisme Again! in Blue Happiness
These new shades by Laura Mercier are fun to play around with. Deep night is true to its name, giving you a strikingly dark navy touch to the eye. $22, www.lauramercier.com
The addictive four prism shadow set by Givenchy fits perfectly in your purse for that last minute touch up. Use one of the blue shades or mix all four. Either way is pretty. $49.50, www.sephora.com
NARS China Blue eye shadow The fascination with color for one of fashion’s top makeup artists has led to the creation of a luscious makeup line. François Nars’ shades of eye shadow are deliciously bold, such as China Blue, a deep and rich cobalt, which gives the eye a smooth and sexy look. $22, www.narscosmetics.com
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Bobbi Brown Metallic Eye Shadow in Midnight This limited edition of metallic eye shadows comes in six exciting shades for the eye. Add a shimmer to the smoky blue look you’ve got going for the day or night and let the party begin! $20, www.bobbibrown. com
Fashion + Style [FASHION StOP]
‘Catching up’ ...with Anna Ruth Henriques, an advocate of beautiful things…an artisan, nature lover, and spiritualist. Fashion Expert Brigitte Segura interviews Anna in New York.
Brigitte Segura (OS): Anna, tell me how you got started… how did we end up here?
Photograph by Robert Manella
Anna Henriques (AH): I started drawing and painting in Jamaica. Even before high school, that was my main form of expression. It accidentally evolved into jewelry. OS: How do you mean ‘accidentally’? AH: A friend of mine, wanted to branch out into jewelry and talked me into taking a wax carving class to keep her company. I wasn’t interested in fashion or jewelry at the time. OS: So you took the class with her...and then? AH: Yes, we took the class, but she dropped out, and I stayed. That class in New York triggered everything; one thing led to another. The whole process gave me a lot of satisfaction, so I started to integrate my artwork into jewelry and amulets. OS: So it’s a fashionable good luck charm that just happens to be trendy. Bugs are big at the moment, so are leaves. I see you also have leaves. AH: (Smiling…) Growing up, I drove my two sisters’ crazy collecting insects. In fact, I have a fantastic collection, a cabinet full of insects from New York; some dragonflies, cicadas. You should come to my apartment and have a look. OS: Your pieces are versatile to wear and beautiful. They aren’t frivolous, but they are precious and also have a message. Do your pieces come with a written story? AH: “Raindrops keep falling” is the name of this piece. Some people see the rain as a hindrance or an annoyance, but rain feeds the Earth. It’s a cleanser, and symbolic of abundance. In a hard moment, this could teach you something. This piece has a dragonfly… dragonflies are believed to be the bridge between heaven and earth; they carry the soul of the person to the next life. The way they touch down and the way they move, these insects are magical. The message starts with the sales person, whether it’s at Barneys, or the owner at a small boutique; she passes along the message. OS: Do you think a Barneys fashionista will get the message? AH: For the person who holds it, it takes on a different significance as she lives with the piece. If you take a closer look at the artwork within the
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You have to feel as if you ‘cannot live without doing what you do,’ then you know it’s for you.
jewelry, you will see everything has a double meaning. The people that collect my work see the thread of connection, they look below the surface. OS: How long before you were in Barneys? How did you end up there? AH: Oh I was making jewelry and selling it for about 2 years or so, and I wanted to expand. I started thinking of the Barney’s clientele, and put together a look book with drawings and photos in it and dropped it off at their headquarters. OS: And that was it? AH: Yes, I got a call back within 45 minutes of dropping off the book; the rest is history. OS: Wow! That’s rather unusual, Barneys is very selective. What is
the price range for these lovely pieces? AH: An amulet can cost about $6,500 retail. There’s a lot of 18K gold, and the stone is almost 200 carats. People may think its glass, but it’s rock crystal that has been hand-carved; and rock crystal magnifies, so this amulet would amplify bringing good things into your life. OS: How long have you been at Barneys? Where else can we find your things?
AH: I am exclusive at Barneys and some small boutiques, where there is no Barneys in the same city. You can find my things in the Caribbean, in Puerto Rico at Reinholds and in Jamaica at Jewels and Time. I would like to expand into more exclusive boutiques, maybe even some in Europe. Most importantly, boutiques in places where the owner has an appreciation for art, precious materials and craftsmanship and can share with her customer. OS: What would be your advice to someone that is interested in starting jewelry design? AH: Take a class. If you can’t afford an art class or a fancy art school, take it at the local ‘Y’… that’s where I took my first class. Also, apprentice; work for ‘experience only’ get familiar with the process and see if you like it. The truth of it is, it’s a lot of work… spreadsheets until midnight, I do all of my own photography, I photo shop, I order materials, and I create. It’s not easy; there are simpler ways to make a living. You have to feel as if you ‘cannot live without doing what you do,’ then you know it’s for you. If I didn’t paint and write and make jewelry, I would drive everyone around me crazy, including myself. For Inquiries please visit www.annaruthenriques.com
OCEANSTYLE [online]
online! Ocean Splash! eZine….. oceanstylemagazine.com… ONLOCATION Blog……. Facebook
weekly fashion updates and the best in fashion and lifestyle!
the OCEAN STYLE Journey…
our regularly updated website connects you to all elements of OCEAN STYLE
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fashion [Beauty secrets]
My Beauty Secrets
S
ocialite Soraya Ho Sing Loy reveals to Ocean Style Beauty Editor, Isabelle Tin-Aung, her best kept beauty secrets, from replenishing thirsty skin to helpful beauty travel tips. A devotee to meditation she credits the Buddhist philosophy for helping her maintain a sense of balance in her hectic schedule. OS: What is your daily beauty regimen? SHSL: I start my day with a Buddhist chant which eliminates any stress lines. I follow up with washing my face with Ren's (clean bio active) jojoba micro bead purifying facial scrub. Then in an old fashioned manner I use Noxzema cleaning pads to ensure any wannabe pimples are short lived! OS: Are you a big fan of make up during the day? SHSL: It's 'barely there'‌ for me during the day. Creme de la Mer moisturizing cream and lip gloss by Benefit. OS: What are your sun care secrets? SHSL: Being in Barbados for the last 16 years, I live at the beach and always use Sunblock - Hawaiian Tropic's Baby Faces SPF 50. OS: Biggest influence on your beauty regimen? Whose look do you admire? SHSL: I admit to having a beautiful mother who despite her busy schedule always used Estee Lauder’s skin range. At 65 years old, her skin radiates as though she was 40! OS: You're stranded on an island. What's your one beauty must have? SHSL: Lipstick! Dior Celebrity Red, definitely. Hopefully as I pout under water I am able to lure curious fish for my dinner plus it could double up as a marker as I write "Help!"
BEAUTY SECRETS: Soraya Ho Sing-Loy Home: St. James, Barbados Photo: Calvin French
OS: You travel a lot. What are some of your beauty travel secrets? SHSL: I never wear makeup on long haul flights. You sometimes end up looking like a raccoon when you arrive at your destination. I wear my Holistic Silk eye mask during the flight and dab on Dior Red Lipstick on arrival, giving me the confidence to charm even the haughtiest immigration officer. OS: What is in your make-up bag that would surprise people? SHSL: A toothbrush and paste. A truly beautiful woman is nothing without a smile and minty fresh breath!
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ESCAPE Fashion
fashion
JAMAICA
[Corseted [Gadgets Romance] & Tech]
A CORSETED ROMANCE By : BRIGITTE SEGURA
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BLOODY GOOD STUFF
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Photos: RODIN BANICA
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KAREN MILLEN... www.karenmillen.com
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Money and
Life To-Do’s….
I will get a training pole dance… regularly. Seriously, un/ in/r s/sp ilate a/P yog /do gym 1. I will go to the working out. buddy so we can nag each other into ng else to do with my being social; I will just find somethi t qui ’t won I but ally soci g kin 2. I will quit smo hands and mouth. get tested regularly. I will get my lady bits checked and ds: Girlfriend 3. I will always practice safe sex and lous Caribbean vacation ; Two Wor fabu a on go to ’ eone som cial ‘spe 4. I will not wait for that Getaway. management. credit card is NOT proper financial my g zin Free r. orde er prop in nces 5. I will get my fina y for an extension send them in on time and not appl and s taxe my g filin help get will 6. I on. It is time for me to home, and getting that tax deducti own my ing buy of ty ibili feas the 7. I will explore tgage. stop paying off my landlord’s mor or a 40-70% off sale! I will ask use it is a bargain, at a sample sale beca just item er” ign “des a buy 8. I will not drobe and when I shop I will buy the this (if I could)? I will shop my war myself, “Would I pay full price for , Conways). means Target or, perish the thought best quality I can afford (even if that money and stick to lunch a couple times a week to save my pack and e hom at st kfa brea 9. I will have a proper -style change that will result in , I will go to a nutritionist for a food diet not will I no, ally Actu . diet my weight-loss. seemingly magical and effortless good as Padma/Katie Lee Joel/Sandra/ my inner Iron Chef; so I can look as nel chan and cook to n lear will I 10. I will throw chez moi . ls at all those BYOB dinner parties skil y nar culi my off ing show le Rachel whi nity, my desk , hall closet, my wardrobe/dresser/va my , draw junk .my cle… recy 11. I will reduce, reuse and ), the pile of assorted mail, room, my fridge (mystery meat??!! my in hes clot of pile that er und r the chai by the sofa. magazines, catalogues on the floor ming an organ donor. 12. I will seriously think about beco labels, and the ones on ations that send me the cute mailing niz orga nice e thos to ute trib con 13. I will send $$ e amazing resorts and those poor that I want to go on vacation to thos TV that save children in countries s. animals that Sarah Mclachlan help don’t have kids, or pets. e a will although I am not married, mak and ther 14. I will get my @#$% toge
king, to half (or even a myself for not doing/getting or stic Most importantly, I will not berate Small Stuff because day to start afresh! Don’t Sweat the new is ay ryd Eve . list this of ) rter qua can Change Your n Soup are Good for The Soul. You Conversations with God and Chicke Not That especially The Rules and even if He’s and ents eem Agr r Fou he T out with Life OK you’re s, The Secret is that in my book if I’m Into You because Men are from Mar to Your Life’s Purpose. OS OK and that is the way to Awaken
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ON Spot TT Carnival [New York]
CARNIVAL!
Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago
W
ined until after ith the celebrations barely being restra ad and Tobago is Trinid in n� Seaso ival “Carn Christmas Day, the that culminate in marked by 2-3 months of frenetic partying s to the streets. move Carnival Monday and Tuesday when the party s! exces rated celeb and Here is some of the glitzy, glamour
Photos by Pixxera.
39
on spot TT Carnival
David George and friend
Island People Shaka Hislop, Jenny Sharma, Mike St. John, Dwight Yorke
Dexter Charles
Tribe - JW and Blaze
Spice - Band Leader
Beenie Man & Dwayne Bravo 40
ESCAPE MALDIVES
Whether the Caribbean Sea or the Indian Ocean…perfect is, well, perfect.
No Problem…… Maldives Style!
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By Brenda Fine e sun is directly overhead, baking the sands and flashing h prisms on the turquoise sea. But we’re cooled by breezes and sheltered under a leafy canopy of banyan trees. It’s another of our languid lunches on the beach and although the table is dressed in crisp white linen, and the waiters are elegant in their earth-toned uniforms, we’re barefoot and casual, with only t-shirts covering our swimsuits. An attentive waiter lifts the chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from the wine bucket and refills our crystal glasses. And, as our just-caught tuna begins to sizzle on the outdoor grill, we catch ourselves grinning like school kids at recess as we raise a toast to the good life.
Sounds like a great day on Macaroni Beach in Mustique, right? No. Then, maybe one of those posh beach picnics at Little Dix in the BVI? Perhaps, it’s a personal chef-catered fete at Altamer Villa in Anguilla? Of course it could be any one of those. Or any of dozens of other romantic Caribbean beach resorts. But it’s not. This idyllic beach scene is taking place half a world away from the Caribbean, on a private island in the Maldives. The setting shifts to a thatch-roofed structure perched on stilts out over a placid lagoon. We enter into its cool darkness and immediately descend a staircase, down, down thirteen feet below the lagoon’s surface. We’ve entered a rare and exotic world --- Lime Spa --- the world’s first underthe-sea spa. Our couples’ treatment room is walled with glass observation windows, giving us a fish’s eye-view of an authentic live coral reef. As we stare in fascination, a school of blue striped snapper flashes by in perfect formation.
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Can a day at the spa get any better, or sexier, than this? Our “Unite Me: Crystal Ritual” couples massage leaves us lulled and relaxed, our skin renewed and glowing from massages with local coconut oils. All this lavish pampering PLUS a rare front-row view of a tropical reef. You may be thinking that this outrageously sybaritic spa just has to be at Raffles Canouan Island in the Grenadines. Or maybe the Ritz Carlton in Grand Cayman, Laluna in Grenada? No to all of the above. The world’s first underwater spa, Lime, is just one more incredible amenity of this intensely private haven in the Maldives, Huvafen Fushi. Huvafen Fushi is an uncommonly luxurious resort that occupies its own private atoll in the Maldives. And while it’s only a 30-minute speedboat ride from Male International Airport, it is light-years removed from our everyday lives. The magic began at the airport where we were met by a young “Thakuru,” (which is Maldivian for butler) from the resort. After ushering us onto the waiting boat he then effortlessly sorted out the luggage. Several drinks and cold towels later, we had arrived at the resort’s dock and were being welcomed by an attentive staff that settled us into golf carts for the ride to our “bungalow.” (It should be noted here that calling these lavish villas “bungalows” is roughly the same as referring to a Jaguar XKR as a “beach buggy”). Huvafen Fushi has a total of 43 of these “bungalows,” ranging in size and WOW-factor from the merely fabulous to the frankly ‘out of this world’. Most are set on stilts out over the water, some facing outward to the Indian
Ocean, others facing the atoll’s peaceful inner lagoon. And those few accommodations not perched directly over the water are tucked away into the island’s tropical forest, connected by a short and very private path to the beach.
Republic of Maldives which, we learned, consists of 19 atolls made up of 1,192 islets (only 250 of which are inhabited). Some travel guru accurately described a visit to the Maldives as “long-haul luxury.” There’s no quarrel with the luxury part, and certainly not with the length of the trip, either. It truly was a long haul from home (New York City) to these sandy shores.
OK, there’s plenty of sun and sand and sea and lots of pampering. But you’re probably wondering why anyone would travel halfway around the world for So here we are, after having logged many hours in transit, relaxing in the this when there are so many fabulous options right here in the Caribbean. glow of unabashed luxury at one of the world’s premier resorts. What does it Good question. And one to which there are plenty of good answers. For one take to catapult a resort into the ratings stratosphere? Basically, everything. thing: “Because it’s there,” (Mallory’s famous reply when asked why anyone Start with a setting that’s straight out of a beach-lover’s fantasy. You’re would climb Mt. Everest) springs to mind. People who are hooked on great on a pancake-flat, sandy atoll, which means there’s a beach edging water beaches just naturally tend to want to sample as many as possible; to collect everywhere you look - the inner lagoon, shimmering and shifting in shades them like so many exotic shells and experience the best the world has to of turquoise, and the vast Indian Ocean stretching out in endless blues from offer. We started our own personal world-class every place on the island. The connection to “collection” with the incomparable beaches of the sea you experience here is so profound as the Caribbean, and are now branching out to to inspire awe. And, of course, the weather is The connection to the sea you those further afield. as dependable as the mangoes served at Celcuis experience here is so profound every morning at breakfast: always the same, So far afield, in fact, that we’re out in the Indian always just right. as to inspire awe. Ocean, southwest of Sri Lanka, somewhere in the Given the sheer drama of Mother Nature out here, it makes perfect sense that the resort has been designed to soothe with creature comforts. One major element of this would be privacy. The over-water bungalows are constructed to maximize privacy by distancing each over-water hideaway from the others. And those hidden in the jungle are, well, they’re hidden in the jungle. The interiors of our home-away-from-home represent another comfort factor. Here it’s all about balancing luxury and technology. While the decor is deceptively simple, minimal yet elegant, the focus is on luxurious fabrics and natural materials. Interestingly, each bungalow is also tricked out with the very latest in hightech electronics and gadgets. In other words, while you’re snuggled in those silky Frette sheets in your outrageously oversized bed, reach out and grab that remote from the bedside table. Click once, and your own personalized choice of music plays through the Bose surround-sound in the bungalow. Click again, and the blackout shades rise soundlessly to reveal brilliant sunlight splashing down on your private deck with its canopied daybed, cushy chaises around the plunge pool. And beyond all that, endless miles
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ESCAPE MALDIVES
of aquamarine sea; and that’s just the view from your bed. While so many high-end beach resorts interpret comfort to mean an abundance of such ‘citified’ elements as marble bathrooms, oversized shower heads, oversized flat screen TVs, and so on. At Huvafen Fushi, comfort takes its rightful place within an island context (comfort, as in bare feet). Let’s face it, there’s a lot of sand on an island and who wants to teeter around in the sand in Manolos? But dress up for dinner, by all means. This is the perfect place for showing off your most gorgeous designer resort wear, but at the same time, be comfortable, after all, sand was meant for bare feet. Shoeless considerations aside, there are dozens of impressively high-end elements that make up this resort. For one, there’s Vinum, a $750,000 wineinventory cellar, cool and dark and inviting, down below ground level. It’s impressive Round Table also happens to be the setting for one of the most amazingly instructional and uproariously entertaining wine tasting dinners I’ve ever attended. (Chateau Petrus, anyone?) Huvafen Fushi’s restaurants are designed to showcase not just the stellar cuisine, but also the naturally sensual setting. It’s hard to overstate the appeal of dining at Salt, enjoying expertly prepared fresh-caught seafood while seated on the outdoor deck that’s cantilevered out over the water, waves splashing lightly beneath, the moon and about ten zillion stars overhead, candles flickering on tables, wine chilling in nearby buckets, soft breezes cooling bare shoulders. True beach lovers will relate to the all-important fact that there’s nothing pretentious here. The underlying premise of Huvafen Fushi seems to be: enjoy the very best that civilization can provide – but enjoy it in comfort. If this means no shoes, bravo! If this means checking into your bungalow and not leaving for the entire stay, that’s all good too. If it means scuba diving every day, several times a day, that’s more than OK. And that is something which brings me to a personal story about diving at Huvafen Fushi. For years, I’ve been scuba diving off many islands in the Caribbean. Some, like Bonaire, Caymans Islands and Dominica, are blessed with more exciting walls and reefs and underwater sites than others. But there’s no such thing as a boring dive; at least not to me. One of my life’s greatest thrills is to be underwater, hovering above a tangle of colorful corals, watching to see tiny critters reveal themselves; or to watch masses of
One of my life’s greatest thrills is to be underwater, hovering above a tangle of colorful corals, watching to see tiny critters reveal themselves. very close range. I’ve seen manta rays before – but usually from a distance as they soar past like prehistoric birds. But these guys kept coming back and back, flying and dipping like stealth bombers, sometimes skimming the top of my head as they zoomed past. Back on the boat, Laurent shared the secret. This spot is a cleaning station; a place where the giant rays know they can always find little worker fish, eager to “clean” them by nibbling away the annoying parasites from their wings and bodies. And so the rays are delighted to keep coming back for more. Laurent also told me that he estimated the wingspan of the largest of the rays to be more than 14 feet. Perhaps, after all, the most comfortable element of all comes from the people of Huvafen Fushi. With a guest-to-staff ratio of five to one, you have five people focusing all their efforts towards making sure you’re enjoying every minute to its fullest. From Laurent to the attentive wait staff in every restaurant, to Aishath, our incomparable Thakuru who literally awaited our call, any hour of the day or night, to the legion of “unseens” who keep the resort running smoothly.
So naturally I couldn’t wait to dive in the Maldives, which is renowned for its wealth of underwater wonders. The resort’s dive boat is comfortable and expertly equipped, captained by Laurent, the extraordinary Swiss-born Dive Manager, and his crew of three.
My husband Burt celebrated his birthday while we were there. Following his festive birthday dinner we returned home to find the entire suite shimmering with candlelight. Someone had placed dozens, no hundreds, of votive candles everywhere. And there, on our huge king-size bed, was a Maldivian work of art: two entwined hearts created by a deftly folded and pleated top sheet, which was then liberally illustrated with flower petals and palm fronds. The next day I made sure to seek out the artist. Turns out it was Faisal, our regular “housekeeper,” one of the background staff, someone we had never even seen before. He modestly accepted our praise and thanks, and then shyly agreed to let us watch as he demonstrated his craft by re-creating his design.
Laurent hadn’t given me much in the way of a pre-dive plan, other than to smile mysteriously and tell me he knew I’d love this site. It was fairly shallow, only about 40 feet down, and strewn with large boulders, but otherwise seemed quite unremarkable. That is, until the cast of characters blew in. There were six or seven of them; large, no gigantic, manta rays, soaring in at
All just part of a day in paradise, and Huvafen Fushi really IS paradise; the kind of paradise where, just as in the Caribbean, one single phrase can represent the spirit of true hospitality. Whatever your whim: “Massala eh neiy!” (That means “No problem!” in Dhivehi, the language of the magical Maldives).
rainbow-colored fish flick past in tight formation. Or witness a solitary shark patrolling a space far out where the water darkens into that marine blue of the deep. It’s all part of the thrill.
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A little bird told me to go straight to The Tryall Club AirTran Airways now offers direct flights to Montego Bay from Orlando, Atlanta & Baltimore
The finest and most luxurious golf, tennis and villa experience in the Caribbean Jamaica’s Tryall Club offers a unique collection of villas nestled in a private club setting that starts at the turquoise Caribbean and continues into the panoramic hills. Each villa is complete with attentive staff offering Jamaican cuisine, excellent service and classic Tryall Club hospitality.
Reserve one of our luxurious villas today by calling The Tryall Club Jamaica – 876.956.5660, 876.633.8000 or Toll free 800.238.5290 or visit us on line at www.tryallclub.com
BOdy & Soul PLAY THERAPY
Do the math….
Play- Pla: A leisure activity that is undertaken purely for enjoyment or muse, and has no other objective. Therapy -ther- -pe: Treatment of mind, body and soul by some rehabilitating or curative process.
the healing potential of adults at play
Play, joy, and spontaneity are deeply rooted in all of our hearts and souls. Infants driven by primal curiosity, playfully explore the universe around them which in turn helps to shape their inner core and psyche. Adults are no different at all. For us, play continues to be an important vehicle in which to enrich us. Intimacy. Inner peace. Mind/body integration. Play results in all of those many things as it truly is the quintessential holistic experience. Endorphins are released, as play gently coaxes us into a state of well-being and calm; silliness and joy. Play becomes a natural and gentle world in which our inner selves can safely be explored. When we are laughing, singing, dancing, moving or simply enjoying life, we tend to take fuller breaths. So inhale… exhale…then get out there and play!
It’s A Jungle Out There and a Paradise Too… Kanantik Reef & Jungle Resort, Belize Kanantik actually means “to take care” in the native language of Maya Mopan. Taking impeccable care of you is in fact, just what this resort does; and from head to toe. Located in the Southern region of Belize in Central America, this all inclusive and eco-sensitive spot is lazily sprawled out on an endless expanse of private beach, encompassing over 300 acres of unspoiled forest. Some 25 fully appointed cabanas adorned with palapas, beautiful handmade furnishings, luxurious rain showers and large decks all come together in providing the ultimate space and luxury, while at the same time tempering its spoils with nature’s gifts offered by the setting. Built on the seas, yet with the jungle as the backdrop, this secluded haven truly offers the best of both worlds.
OLLY, OLLY OXEN FREE Me Tarzan, You Jane - Couples Therapy Kanantik is dreamily secluded and is a Belize hideaway that is clean, beautiful, and most of all...romantic. Why not grab a billowy hammock and take a lazy nap with your partner? Kick off your flip flops and walk the expanse of the seashore hand in hand. Lie side by side in the late evening and count the shimmering stars as they wink playfully back at you. Reconnect. Group Therapy: Kanatik is located 18 miles south of Dangriga Town, the cultural center of the Garifuna people, and four miles south of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the large and national park dedicated to the preservation of the jaguar.
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Take a canoe on the Cabbage Haul Creek. Look out for the water birds and manatees in the Sapodilla Lagoon, bird watch or take a scenic hike to spectacular waterfalls or a day trip to Xunantunich Mayan ruin. The resort will see to all of the details of your chosen excursions. Hydrotherapy: Explore the nearby coast with hobie cats and sea kayaks available at the resort. Snorkeling and scuba diving excursions with certified divemasters can also be arranged. If you’d rather keep it simple, just throw on a bathing suit and take a leisurely swim. Sensory Integration: Submit if you will to the sights, fragrances and sounds about you, as you feel your senses heighten, ready to inhale every last drop of Kanatik’s wonder in grand elegance and lush tropical splendor. Take in the powdered sugar lined beach front stretching for miles. Poke a toe into the aquamarine bath warm sea, itself as vivid as a masterpiece painting. Taste: Local flavors combine with a splash of Italian heritage in perfect fusion, resulting in mouth watering Creole-Mediterranean cuisine. The culinary team at Kanantik brings together a medley of local flavors with a dash of Italian heritage from the resort’s owner. Movement: The Garifuna people of Belize, celebrate a diverse and rich culture that is a blend of African traditions of music, dance and religious ceremonies. Guests of Kanantik can enjoy traditional Garifuna songs and dance styles as a local Garifuna dance group performs at the resort weekly. Sound: Unusual and distinct birds and wildlife join together to provide a symphony of amazing clarity and resonance. Just sit still and listen. Aroma Therapy: Every bloom and lush foliage brings a new waft of tropical perfume and natural incense. Close your eyes and take it in. No peeking… Final Therapeutic Musings: You can learn more about a man in an hour of play, than in a year of conversation. – Plato
By Karen Holly Berliner
Introducing the latest addition to the RockResorts® collection – Balcones del Atlántico. Located on the breathtaking Samaná Peninsula in the Domincan Republic, Balcones del Atlántico is truly a picturesque paradise of simple luxury and a departure from the ordinary. Delight in the lush rainforests, unspoiled beaches, vibrant coral reefs and mountain waterfalls. Explore the colorful village of Las Terrenas, Samaná’s most popular town. Appreciate the thoughtful amenities and level of service synonymous with RockResorts.
ASPEN, CO BEAVER CREEK, CO BRECKENRIDGE, CO VAIL, CO LAS TERRENAS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC MIAMI, FL SANTA FE, NM JACKSON HOLE, WY RODNEY BAY, ST. LUCIA
Opening 2010
BLOODY Goodstuff [Gadgets & Tech]
BLOODY GOOD STUFF
VIVIENNE TAM DIGITAL CLUTCH v2.0 (aka HP Mini 210 Vivienne Tam Edition)
D
escribed as “Hands down the best looking netbook”, and Amazon best selling, the HP mini 1140NR was deemed “the perfect fashion accessory and the world’s first digital clutch.” So what did HP and designer Vivienne Tam, do? Well they improved on the original…obviously! The new model was introduced with great aplomb via the runways of New York Fashion Week, and like Tam’s 2010 collection, the notebook design is inspired by the classic Chinese love story Butterfly Lovers. With its sleek (2.6 pounds and 1-inch thin) profile and a host of snazzy features (instant-on technology, highperformance audio and built-in webcam), it promises equal degrees of excitement for fashionistas and techies alike. Available March 2010 with a starting price of $599 at U.S. retailers including Neiman Marcus, Amazon.com, Best Buy and J&R Electronics. Visit www.hp.com/ viviennetam for additional retailers.
“As a fashion designer I have always found inspiration in bringing contrasting worlds together,” said worldrenowned designer Vivienne Tam.
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DIVE IN ONE PAGE AT A TIME
With anan avant-garde end fashion fashion With avant-gardeapproach approach to to high high end coupled with the very best in the exquisite coupled with the very best in the exquisite Caribbean, fashion, Caribbean,Ocean OceanStyle Styleblends blends the the finest finest ininfashion, beauty, and entertainment. entertainment. beauty,food, food,luxury luxury travel travel and Best theCaribbean Caribbeanconveniently conveniently GetGet thethe Best ofofthe delivered directlytotoyour yourhome homeor oroffice. office. delivered directly
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ESCAPE FEATure [Rolex Regatta] [New York]
Regatta
Fever
A Delightful Union of WorldClass Event and Destination combine at the Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas.
By Douglas Gordon
L
anding at the Cyril E. King airport in St. Thomas is reminiscent of landing at Crown Point in Tobago. There is an uncomplicated, familiar feeling about the airport; less international point of entry and more gateway to a warm welcome to your country home – albeit via air and not auto.
As one of three islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands - a chain under US governance - St. Thomas offers many of the conveniences of living in the United States within a Caribbean landscape. While elements of US consumerism abound (from the Office Depot to the AT&T store) most striking were the excellent roads, overall cleanliness and pristine state of the Government buildings. And while they do brag (a little) about their ‘laid-back’ attitudes I found the punctuality to be a lot more American than Caribbean (perhaps something they can work on for the future).
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ESCAPE [Rolex Regatta]
The International Rolex Regatta offered the enviable opportunity to explore a world-class sailing event up close and the opportunity to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands which to that point I was yet to experience. I’ve always considered sailing to be one of those sports that could only be appreciated as a participant – after all you’re on a moving ‘track’ and without the assurance of a motor the possibility does exist (even in theory) that without Mother Nature’s active blessing you have the potential for not much more than a slow drift on the high seas. Hosted by the St. Thomas Yacht Club the annual regatta has existed for over 30 years, with Rolex a proud partner from the very beginning. Under the stewardship of race director John Sweeney, the fifty plus boats and crew seemed equally passionate about the exploits across the beautiful Caribbean waters and the intrigues of the Caribbean trade winds as partaking of the many pre- and post- race parties that accompany the Friday – Sunday race days. The Regatta takes place over three days with multiple races over various courses. Boats are classified according to a handicapping system with the CSA designation representing a Caribbean standard and the IRC an international standard. With six classes of competition and various races taking place concurrently from staggered starts as well over different courses, following the action is a challenge in of itself (and gauging from the feedback over the radio is a challenge that not all the boats navigate successfully). It was fascinating to watch the tactics up close as boats challenged each other with varied lines to take advantage of currents, wind direction, speed and sail selections adding an intriguing dimension. The races were scored in six classes, one for IRC, three for CSA (Spinnaker Racing, Spinnaker Racing/ Cruising and Non-Spinnaker Racing) and one each for One-Design IC 24s and Beach Cats.
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Even in these challenging economic times it was good to see that there remain those who can, and do, indulge in the benefits that their success allows.
I can only describe the racing as both intense and good-natured. It was captivating to see the transition as the sailors went from enjoying their ‘rum and reggae’ at the party at Yacht Haven Grande on Saturday night to the screaming and hollering which takes place on the boats as they ‘pitch and tackle’ (the colourful language belying the intensity) jockeying for position, gauging the wind and the surf to round the various buoys on the course. But get the variables correct and victory is sweet. With beautiful Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II watches awaiting the winners of the IRC, CSA Spinnaker Racing, CSA Spinnaker Racing/Cruising and the IC 24 classes there was a lot more than pride at stake for the victors. We stumbled across Top Gun owned by Trinidadian sailor (and otherwise Scotia banker) Lawrence Aqui who now calls St. Thomas home with his beautiful wife Lisa. St. Thomas offers an enviable mix of natural Caribbean beauty and first-world amenities. As we passed the police station in the capital of Charlotte Amalie I was impressed by the fleet of new SUV’s parked and ready for duty. Simple as it was it underscores the critical difference in being a ‘part of’ a first-world nation like the United States while maintaining the unique beauty and charm that comes with being located within our Caribbean waters. Of course with a population of a mere 50,000 and over a million cruise ship and half a million air tourists a year one would expect that St. Thomas would be able to take care of its population. And with its hilly terrain, St. Thomas seems to enjoy more than its fair share of breathtaking vistas along with enchanting white sand beaches surrounded by turquoise waters. The last time I saw this ratio of white sand to turquoise water I was at Fowl Cay in the Bahamas. The most magnificent beach I saw on the island was Magen’s Bay; situated between two
St. Thomas offers an enviable mix of natural Caribbean beauty and first-world amenities. The architecture in the town is well-rooted in its Danish heritage with the storefronts throughout the capital brimming with character along the main shopping thoroughfare, mere feet from the harbor. Any visit to St. Thomas for the seasoned shopper must include a gander over to Yacht Haven Grande. With designer boutiques from Gucci to Louis Vuitton, Coach to Salvatore Ferragamo duty free luxury has a different sort of pull. Of course, upgrading your wardrobe in and amongst the multi-million dollar yachts which seem to fill every available berth offers a Caribbean shopping experience of its own unique charm. A new and modern facility, Yacht Haven Grande offers condos and berths to ‘yachties’ looking for a Caribbean ‘parking spot’ for their ocean faring charges. With its retail therapy and various restaurant offerings it’s a favorite haunt for some of the world’s largest mega-yachts having already been visited by Larry Ellison’s 452’uber mega-yacht Rising Sun.
mountains it was named one of the world’s 10 most beautiful beaches by Conde Nast Traveler. The island’s robust tourism gives it a wealth of great restaurants and terrific duty free shopping. In fact it would have to be said that you could quite easily offset the cost of a weekend getaway to St. Thomas with savings if you were in the market for quality jewels or precious stones. While standing in Royal Caribbean one bejeweled woman remarked that the Chanel J12 watch “…was $4200 plus tax in Bal Harbour and a steal at only $3600” (clearly no fiscal stimulus needed there!).
The Regatta was certainly a memorable and enjoyable experience. As the sun set at the Yacht Club on Sunday evening, marking the end of the Regatta, the collective mood become more and more celebratory as the sun-drained and burnt sailors joined with the onlookers and everyone partied the night away to the mix of soca and reggae that played from the band - enjoying the copious amounts of Mount Gay and Heineken that one would expect of any self-respecting yachting event. Even in these challenging economic times it was good to see that there remain those who can, and do, indulge in the benefits that their success allows. Whether you’re interested in taking in the sights from the Oceanside or more at home enjoying some land-based luxury St. Thomas can certainly fit the bill. Photo Credits: St. Thomas Yacht Club/ Ingrid Abery and DKG
THE MAYAN QUEEN We may have missed Rising Sun but we sure did get to enjoy the sheer majesty of Mayan Queen as it sat docked. The 305 foot mega-yacht (recently ranked #17 on the list of the World’s 100 largest yachts by Power & Motoryacht) is owned by Mexican Billionaire Alberto Baillères was glorious as it sat at its dock at Yacht Haven Grande. The 77 year old Baillères, Mexico’s second richest man behind Carlos ‘Slim’ Helu (whose telecom empire includes Claro in Jamaica) may be suffering from Billionaire-envy with his compatriot recently named Forbes’ Richest Person in the World, beating Bill Gates by about $500 Million. If that is so we say “Don’t Cry for me Argentina!”
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ESCAPE CANEEL BAY
D
oes your “ideal vacation” include the ability to sit all alone on a white sand bay surrounded by gorgeous turquoise waters brushed by a warm tropical breeze with lush vegetation behind you; bonding with nature as though you were ensconced on your private island with nary a soul in sight? If the answer is yes, Caneel Bay may have your number.
Nature’s
By Douglas Gordon
Caneel Bay St. John, Where the Pristine Meets the Elegant. (Blackberries not welcome). Tucked away on the coastline of St. John in the US Virgin Islands the resort with its 166 guest rooms and cottages sits amidst 170 acres of natural reserve, protected as a national park. There are seven beautiful beaches surrounding the resort allowing you to enjoy a day at the beach with other guests or stroll until you get to one of the deserted beaches and enjoy it all alone.
For over 50 years Caneel Bay has played host to dignitaries and visitors with an appreciation for refined luxury. It is built for those who can appreciate a vacation that focuses on captivating natural beauty enjoyed with minimal interruption from mankind. The house Laurence Rockefeller built here many years ago was designed to capture the natural beauty abundant on this side of St. John. Many buildings on from that single original structure, Caneel Bay, now part of the Rosewood Group, continues that tradition with its emphasis on providing a private world of rare and natural beauty. The Rosewood Group has a collection of luxury hotel properties which range from The Carlyle in New York to the Rosewood Abu Dhabi and
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ticians and celebrities. In fact it recently played host to Brad and Angelina (along with their kids, nannies, security detail and reportedly 97 pieces of luggage) when they chose the resort for a low key Caribbean holiday. The wild donkeys that roam the property provide an ongoing reminder of your interaction with the natural surroundings. Despite the many signs warning not to feed the donkeys clearly they are used to human interaction (and the spoils) and their roaming around the property adds a unique character all its own to Caneel Bay.
three Caribbean properties - Little Dix in Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands), Jumby Bay (Antigua) and Caneel Bay in St. John.
Descriptions such as old world, pristine and uncomplicated spring to mind as you roam the property. Enough cannot be said about the balance of the pristine beaches and the lush vegetation.
I thoroughly recommend the ‘Caneel Bay Kayak, Hike and Snorkel’ offered by Virgin Islands Eco-Tours. Guides Mike Nail and Liz WalBuilt for an age when sophistication was more a function of how lace teach about the many different plants and trees, then you kayak you carried yourself than material accouterments, at Caneel Bay across one of the bays and then enjoy one of the coral reefs just off you can expect understated luxury and rustic charm. You can exthe shore and learn about some of the nearby marine life. I highly pect personal attention and first class dining. What you shouldn’t recommend the tour but word to the wise – it’s a little physically expect are some of the modern trappings which sometimes serve to demanding. (Mike also offers some useful ‘jungle survival tips’ along call the notion of ‘vacation’ into question. I was advised that upon the way – which trees and plants house potable check-in you are expected to surrender water and which deadly poison; my only problem your mobile phone, Blackberry or iPhone. was remembering which was which……) You won’t find telephones or TV’s in the …upon check-in rooms or cottages. you are expected to Caneel Bay offers a real look at how you can fully enjoy a natural environment without disrupting The rooms feature hand-crafted furnisurrender your mobile nature. All the elements are there for that quintture made of natural woods adorned or ry er kb ac Bl phone, essential ‘Caribbean’ vacation – white sand, clear with richly woven fabric. It would have blue sea. Caneel Bay offers an experience that is to be said that some of them were a little iPhone. You won’t find e th simple, yet not simplistic. Certainly not for the disappointing. The external structures in ’s TV or s telephone bargain-friendly but for those who can afford I could use a facelift and perhaps change rooms or cottages… say unreservedly ‘Go!’ - enjoy the beautiful surof colour while the inside of some of the roundings, top notch fare and first class service. rooms lack character. While the overriding objective of the hotel may be to get But for those not (yet) able I say take away one simple lesson the guests to experience the exquisite surroundings (as it should be) sometimes less is more. We have so much around us in the Cariband expansive grounds more should be done so the rooms match bean for which many crave and for which we sometimes fail to the caliber of the rest of the resort. truly appreciate. As with much else in life, however, not all the rooms are created equal. Cottage 7, formerly the vacation home of the Rockefeller’s, has hosted them all – from Russian and Chinese Billionaires to poli-
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BoDY & Soul JAMAICA [Family Health]
House Call We have responded to the calls for a regular health column that will allow our readers to write in with their questions. Ocean Style’s resident health expert Dr. Aisha Lofters-Scales weighs in on a couple health queries from readers.
Dear Doc, I’m a 33-year-old mother of a one-year-old baby girl. For the last six months or so, I have been struggling to lose weight. I remember when I was in university and graduate school that I could eat whatever I wanted and wouldn’t gain a pound but since I’ve had my daughter, it’s been so hard! I’ll eat much less often than I used to, eat plenty of salads, and then I’ll get on the scale and see I’ve only lost a pound or two. Then I just get frustrated and pig out, and the whole cycle begins again. What can I do to get the weight off once and for all? Mina, Barbados Dear Mina ■ The frustration that you speak of is something that I’m sure a lot of readers can relate to: eating less, eating less often, eating very low calorie meals and then not seeing it pay off when you get on the scale. It doesn’t make sense: if you take in fewer calories, you’ve got to lose weight, right? Wrong. Or at least it’s not that simple. As we get older, our metabolism tends to slow down, as it sounds like you’re finding out. When your metabolism slows, your body will hang on to every calorie that it can and you have to work harder to lose weight that would have been easy to lose before. There are some very common mistakes that dieters make that slow the metabolism down even more, and it sounds like you’re making some of those blunders. First, eating less often is not the answer. If your stomach is growling every time you sit down to eat something that means that you’ve waited too long since your last meal or snack. That growling stomach tells the body that you’re in starvation mode and makes it hold on to fat. It also often leads people to eventually pig out when they can’t take it anymore. That’s not the path to sustainable weight loss! Instead, what you should be doing is eating smaller portions more frequently throughout the day; aim for eating a meal or snack every three hours while awake. Second, those meals and snacks need to be healthy. Diets where you only eat salads or only eat soups, for example, will only work in the short term. To keep the weight off long-term, your diet needs to include adequate amounts of protein and fibre, both of which have many health benefits and also can make you feel fuller. Protein is most commonly consumed through lean meat, eggs and dairy products, and fibre is found in fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and legumes. Fish, ubiquitous in the Caribbean, is a great choice for the healthy eater, but avoid frying. Rice and peas/beans can be quite healthy (try cooking with brown rice, and non-fat milk instead of coconut milk) and breadfruit is an excellent source of protein and fibre while being low in fat. As well, fruits that are yellow or orange in color have particularly high fibre levels. One other essential method of weight loss and increasing your metabolism that you didn’t mention is exercise. I’m sure you are busy with an infant at home, but it’s very important to work out regularly. Start off slow but aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week. Finally, in order to come up with the ideal weight loss plan that will work best for you and your lifestyle, it’s always best to consult with both your own physician and a dietician.
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Dear Doc: I’m 36 years old, happily married and in the dream job that I love. But like clockwork, one week before my period starts, I become utterly and completely miserable. I yell at my employees when I know they don’t deserve it, I won’t let my husband get near me, and I burst out crying for no reason at all. I know lots of women get PMS but I’ve never seen anyone with PMS as bad as mine! What can I do? Grace, Trinidad Dear Grace ■ For most women, although annoying, the symptoms of PMS are no more severe than being cranky and miserable. But for a small percentage, the time before menses can be a nightmare. What you’re describing sounds like it might be more consistent with PMDD or Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder. PMDD is the much more intense, and much less well-known, cousin of PMS and affects 5-10% of all women. Women with PMDD will often complain of severe depression (not just the blues), high levels of anxiety, and intense mood swings during the week or two before their periods, also known as “the luteal phase”. In the most extreme cases, women can even experience homicidal or suicidal thoughts during this time. What really distinguishes PMDD from PMS is its debilitating nature, and women with PMDD often just aren’t able to function up to par, or even at all, during the luteal phase. You asked what you can do about your symptoms and that’s the right question to ask, because you don’t have to go through this alone or without help. First, I recommend that you book an appointment to see your family doctor or gynecologist right away and discuss with him or her what you have been experiencing. Only a physician can diagnose you with PMDD. If you are diagnosed with PMDD, there are many treatment options available that your physician will discuss with you. Many women achieve excellent symptom control by taking an oral contraceptive or birth control pill, which helps to regulate hormone levels. Not all pills are the same, however; be forewarned that some may actually worsen PMDD. Another common and effective medication choice is the use of certain antidepressants, which can be used either daily or only during the luteal phase. For those women who are leery of medication, or require additional treatment beyond medication, there are some dietary changes that might be beneficial. Vitamin B6, at a maximum dose of 100 mg daily, has shown promise in PMDD. You can either take B6 in capsule form, or find it in high amounts in foods such as liver, bananas, avocadoes and fish. As well, counseling on stress management strategies has long been used to help women deal effectively with their PMDD. Don’t worry, together with your doctor, you’ll find the option that’s right for you!
Dr. Aisha Lofters-Scales is a family physician and epidemiologist. She was born in the Caribbean and is based in Toronto, Canada. You can send your questions to her via email at health@oceanstylemagazine.com
PULSE [OCEAN STYLE]
What’s What’s
HOt H tN NOt t Frugalista
1
Fashionista
Bag, Borrow or Steal , Haute Look or Save Fashion
2
Wait List
Martha Stewart post incarceration
3
Bernie Madoff
Hands free car attachment, Bluetooth, wireless
4
Talking or texting while driving
Kindle
5
Books
Oprah’s Gift List
6
Tyra’s copy cat Gift List
Cougars or Pumas
7
Barely legal Teens and twenty-somethings
Ikea Kitchens
8
Custom Kitchens
Snapping up Real Estate now
9
Buying Real Estate between 2006-2007 - ouch
Jimmy Choo for H+M, actually any high end Designer doing low priced diffusion lines at Target, H+M,Uniqlo,Walmart,JCP etc
10
People who stand in line from the night before and stampede to buy everything in a mad rush as the store opens then sell the stuff on Ebay for extortion prices!!!!
Guitar Hero and DJ Hero for PS3
11
Karoke Machines
911 attackers being put on Trial – finally justice
12
Katrina Victims are still suffering
Black Car Service
13
Zip car
Netbooks
14
iphone, Google phone, Palm whatever
Usain Bolt
15
Being behind Usain Bolt and breathing his dust
Home-made sexy tapes
16
Sexy Tapes stolen or leaked from your computer This is a gross invasion of privacy.
Digital Editions of Magazines, Catalogues and newspapers
17
Magazines, catalogues and newspapers cluttering our homes, filling our landfills and destroying our forests.
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wine & dine DRINKS
Pomegranate
Martini
A perfect cocktail for the fun-seeker
• 1 ½ oz. Appleton Estate Reserve • ½ oz Mango Nectar • ½ oz. Pomegranate Liquor • ½ oz. Triple Sec • 3 oz. Pineapple juice
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On spot
ON SPOT
[la vida loca] [New York]
OCEAN STYLE MAGAZINE: LIVING LA VIDA LOCA
Fashion Showcase & OCEAN STYLE/ESPN Golf Invitational Half Moon Resort, Rose Hall, Jamaica. October 2009.
Cruise
Golf
Fashion
Party
PAGE 64 Island Routes Cocktail Cruise
PAGE 66 OCEAN STYLE/ESPN Golf Invitational Half Moon Golf Course
PAGE 67 Fashion Showcase Half Moon Resort
PAGE 68 Appleton After Party Black Pearl
oceanstylemagazine.com/events
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on spot la vida loca
David Shirley, Melinda and James Sampson
Misa Hylton-Brim and BJ Coleman
Alex Jordan and Frank Leboeuf
Raquel and Dinesh Dadlani
ESPN's Bernard Stewart and Alex Jordan
Phillip Bloch and Misa Hylton-Brim
DJ Q
Mike Houston, Isiaa Madden-Brown, Andy Cole
Frank Leboeuf and Chie Davis
Totlyn Mason and Heather Thomas
Sheree Whitfield and Francheska Greene 64
Models Katarina Munoz and Miguel Perdomo
on spot [Golf]
Ewan Peebles
Andy Cole and Lennox Lewis
The US$1M Shootout Qualifiers
Gary Matalon and Marcus Simmonds... plot strategy! Cricket Legend Courtney Walsh Jason Lopez Celebrates
FirstCaribbean's Gerry White
Frank Leboeuf, Shaka Hislop, Jeffrey Dujon and Mike Houston
Jeffrey Dujon James Sampson, Deborah and Mel Spence
Carolyn Yapp, Chie Davis, Brigitte Young 66
ON spot [FASHION]
Danielle Cunningham, DJ Bambino and Friends
Andre Gordon, Tanya Stephens and Loyal Haylett
Glen Lawrence and Friends
Ian Mc Nally , Michelle McNally and Kevin Bourke
Phillip Bloch and Sheree Whitfield
Tiffany Hamilton and Judy Farmer with a friend
Tina and Gary Matalon
Bryce Wilson, Shauna Hart, Kerry Clarke
Kim Edwards and Kerry Clarke
Scott and Andrea Stanley and Donovan Bailey Lady Saw and Novia McDonald-Whyte
Constance White and Freddie Leiba
Kingsley Cooper, Norbert Nicholson, Romae Gordon and Maurice Hamilton Anna-Kaye and Sandrene Weichenberger and Stephen Shirley Sharon Cunningham
Kaci Hamilton, Gregory and Michelle Mayne
Richard and vinton Whitfield and Peter Kellond Francine Allen and Andre Reid
Ian Dear and Sigrid Ribbe
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on spot
[Appleton After Party]
David, Sheree Whitfield and Francheska Green
BJ Coleman Richard Ferdin and Colleeno Chippy Andy Cole and David Walton (Appleton)
APPLETON AFTER PARTY Black Pearl, Montego Bay.
David Walton and Quentin Hardy
Robbie Earl, Ardi Dwornik, Steve Palese Loni Jones, Carolyn Yapp and friend
Dominique Peterkin, Donovan Bailey and Raquel Dadlani
Robin Russel and The Pier One Crew
Loni Jones, Sanya Hughes and friends 68
Lennox Lewis and David Walton
Feature [COVER STORY]
The Invincible
Michael Jackson By Patricia Meschino
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I’d never seen anybody like him. He was one of a kind. – Smokey Robinson
I
n his transformation from precocious child star to childlike adult luminary, Michael Jackson sold hundreds of millions of records, injected visionary cinematic artistry into the music video format at its nascent stage and realized a series of creative triumphs that altered the trajectory of the music industry. With his passing on June 25, 2009, (from an accidental overdose of the powerful sedative Propofol administered by his personal physician, Grenada-born, Trinidad-raised cardiologist Dr. Conrad Murray) the world lost a sartorial trendsetter, a soft-spoken philanthropist who topped the Guinness Book of Records’ list of The Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star, and a singular pop icon of unparalleled talent and unrivaled influence. Michael’s inability to capture his mid 80s heyday, when his music ruled the charts and spawned legions of imitators, compounded by a series of personal dilemmas, most prominently his 2003 indictment on child molestation charges, led to a downward spiral from which he was unable to recover. Michael’s “This is It” 50 concert series which was scheduled to commence at London’s O Arena on July 13 was part of a multifaceted strategy designed to pay off hundreds of millions dollars of debt accrued through his lavish lifestyle by returning his music to the media spotlight which too often cast its unforgiving glare on his dramatically lightened complexion, rounds of plastic surgery and bizarre lifestyle choices. It was uncertain if Michael could have pulled off those 50 concerts, given the posthumous disclosure of his addiction to a variety of painkillers, or if their successful execution would have secured the mass adoration he enjoyed during the Jackson Five’s glory years or at the pinnacle of Thriller-mania a quarter century ago. Michael’s untimely death, just days before the This Is It concerts’ intended start date, ironically, returned his timeless music to the top of the Billboard, (as well as iTunes and Amazon.com) sales tallies, while ushering in a seemingly insatiable market for Michael memorabilia. Michael’s final chart topping encore, in addition to the innumerable tributes staged for him across the globe provided an appropriate farewell to the King of Pop, and a renewed opportunity to reassess the career of, arguably, the most brilliant artist in the history of popular music.
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ESCAPE JAMAICA
A Global Thriller: Worldwide By Patricia Meschino Michael Jackson’s passing on June 25, 2009 prompted a wide range of tributary celebrations, which slice through various cultural and linguistic divides, just as his music did during his lifetime. On June 28th, 1,500 orange-jumpsuit clad inmates at the Philippines’ Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center gathered in the jail’s recreational area and danced to “Thriller”. The prisoners originally presented a similar tribute to Michael in 2007, as part of the facility’s recreation program; Michael’s death provided an opportune moment to restage the surprisingly moving display and the resultant video clip has received over 25 million hits on YouTube. In Mexico City on August 29, which would have been Michael’s 51st birthday, more than 50,000 people gathered in front of the Monument of the Revolution, many attired in the red leather jacket, red slacks, white socks and black loafers Michael wore in the Thriller
video, others dressed as the video’s macabre supporting characters, and set a Guinness World Record for the number of people dancing to “Thriller”. In Brooklyn, New York, Borough President Marty Markowitz declared August 29 Michael Jackson Day in that borough and director Spike Lee, who collaborated with Michael on the video for “They Don’t Care About Us”, threw a free party in his honor at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Despite heavy showers, thousands turned out to hear Michael’s music and reflect on his genius. “I’m just like everybody else,” Spike announced, “just somebody who loved his talent.” Even in repressive China (where he had never appeared) Michael’s songs were played and his albums were prominently displayed following his death because the 1980s peak of Michael Jackson-mania coincided with that Communist country’s (limited) political and economic reforms. Although Michael only appeared twice in the Caribbean,
When he was not on stage, he was loving, respectful he was on stage, he was so in charge believe he was the same person.” —Berry Gordy
“Michael Jackson was the greatest and shy. When entertainer of my lifetime,” says you would not Johnny Gourzong, Executive Director of Reggae Sumfest, Jamaica’s largest annual music event held each July. Sumfest 2009 was dedicated to Michael; many artists performed his songs while dancers adorned with Jheri curled hair, sequined wardrobes and their faces caked with ivory powder gracefully moon walked across the stage. Michael’s older brother Tito performed as a special guest artist and accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of his brothers from the Sumfest Directors – a tribute which brought the festival unprecedented international media coverage. “When we heard about Michael’s London shows, we began exploratory research into bringing him to Jamaica to perform. Michael has so many fans here I really wish we could have brought him,” Gourzong sighed, “because I don’t know if we will ever see his caliber of talent again.”
A quintessentially American success story that metamorphosed into a peerless global phenomenon with a fan base that transcended every imaginable socioreligious-ethnic barrier, the world was introduced to Michael Joseph Jackson (born in Gary, Indiana on August 29, 1958) as the cherubic, juvenile lead singer of his sibling group The Jackson 5. The group’s precocious on stage professionalism resulted from exhaustive rehearsals under the watchful eye and (as Michael later acknowledged) abusive hand of their father Joe Jackson. Michael’s flawlessly nimble dance steps were influenced by late R&B greats Jackie Wilson and James Brown while his soulful vocals, as heard in the group’s 1969 Motown Records’ singles “I Want You Back”, “ABC”, “The Love You Save” and 1970’s “I’ll Be There” (each topped the Billboard Pop Singles and Soul (R&B) Singles chart, a first for any group) displayed an aural sophistication and emotional depth that belied his prepubescent age. The Jackson 5’s early hits were written and produced by The Corporation, which consisted of Motown founder Berry Gordy, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards, and Freddie Perren; they crafted a youthful sound for the Jackson brothers called “bubblegum soul”, which applied a gleaming pop sheen to classic R&B.
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Marketing the immensely talented Jackson 5 was nearly an effortless task for Motown due to the Detroit based label’s prior success with The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, and Marvin Gaye, among other consistent hit makers of the 60s and 70s. The five handsome singing/ dancing teenaged Jackson brothers sporting beatific smiles and fluffy foot-wide afros were the epitome of 70s cool attired in suede fringed vests worn over wide-collared paisley print shirts or embroidered bell-bottom pants suits worn with the era’s de rigueur platform shoes. The group’s focal point was a pint-sized dynamo who performed with the funkified verve of James Brown, was as soulful as Marvin Gaye and as heartrending as Smokey Robinson.
Even in his preteen years Michael’s advanced talent outshone not only his brothers but also the majority of adults on the Motown roster. Not too surprisingly by his mid teens Michael and his siblings sought greater artistic control over their music. They left Motown (except for Jermaine who was married to Motown boss Berry Gordy’s daughter and was replaced by the youngest Jackson brother Randy), signed to CBS Records’ subsidiary Epic and were rechristened The Jacksons (Motown retained the “Jackson 5” trademark). Joseph negotiated a new contract for his sons with CBS (which was acquired by Sony in 1988) who increased their royalty rate to 20% per record, a significant improvement over Motown’s standard 2.8%, and permitted them to write, produce and play their own instruments on their recordings. By the late 70s The Jacksons’ self written/produced hits including “Shake Your Body”, (heavily sampled by Shaggy for his 2000 dancehall reggae crossover hit “Dance Shout”) which sold more than two million copies, displayed a matured danceable sound that favored denser funk riffs over the Motown era’s sugary bubblegum pop. The Jackson 5 were the last superstar act from the Motown star making factory, which made black culture palatable to white America, a momentous accomplishment with implications far beyond record sales in fractious 1960s America which saw race riots, the assassinations of Malcom X and Dr. Martin
Celebrations of Michael Jackson’s Music he continued to exert a profound influence on the region’s artists and its musical genres. “Very few artists today can say that they haven’t been influenced by Michael,” says Jamaican songstress Nadine Sutherland who like Michael was also a child star in the 1970s. “He has even influenced Jamaica’s hardcore dancehall acts, although they refuse to admit it.” Several months prior to Michael’s passing, Jamaican singer/songwriter Tarrus Riley’s roots reggae rendition of “Human Nature”(from Thriller) topped the charts in several Caribbean countries. Featured on Tarrus’ current album “Contagious” (VP Records), “Human Nature” was originally recorded for a reggae tribute album to Michael “Jackson Lovers” (released, thus far, solely in Japan on Ki/oon Records) and has received even greater recognition since Michael’s death. “I don’t really sing cover versions but Michael is my singer and “Human Nature” is my favorite song by him,” Tarrus disclosed. “I loved the way he sang that song and it felt great for me to sing it too.” Tito Jackson was visibly moved by the outpouring of love
shown to his younger sibling as he reminisced about his previous visit to Jamaica throughout his performance on the final night of Jamaica’s 17th annual Reggae Sumfest. “The last time I was here was in the 1970s with my brothers,” Tito told the audience, referencing the Jackson 5’s historic appearance as the opening act for Bob Marley and The Wailers at Kingston’s National Stadium in 1975. “My brother Michael loved Jamaica and he would love to see the support he is getting here tonight.” The Jackson 5 returned to the Caribbean in 1978 for three concerts in Trinidad, the larger island in the republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Martineau brothers, Frank and the recently deceased Claude, of Spektacula Promotions, presented the concerts, which featured Michael’s spirited rendition of Trinidadian calypso legend Lord Kitchener’s classic “Sugar Bum Bum”. “At that time soca was lacking exposure and who better than Michael Jackson to do a soca song? The biggest song that year was “Sugar Bum Bum” so we
approached Michael’s manager, who spoke to Michael who said he would take a chance at it,” reminisced Frank Martineau on the phone from his Port of Spain, Trinidad home. While in Trinidad The Jacksons visited an orphanage and a few schools in Port of Spain’s poorest communities, “because they came from humble beginnings, they wanted to reach out to underprivileged children to encourage them.” The Jacksons also became further acquainted with the island’s vibrant culture when several Trinidadian steelbands performed songs for them. “They never heard of a steel pan (Trinidad’s indigenous musical instrument) before,” Frank noted, “and they were quite intrigued by it.” The intrigue was obviously mutual. At Trinidad’s July 2009 Pan in the Community series each participating steelband was asked to include at least one Michael Jackson song in their repertoire, according to Patrick Arnold President of the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband organization Pan Trinbago. “It is just our unique way of paying tribute to the King of Pop.”
Luther King, the March on Washington and the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. At the time of Michael’s passing Berry Gordy acknowledged him as a talent “beyond his years. When I first heard him sing Smokey’s “Who’s Lovin’ You” at 10 years’ old, it felt like he had lived the song for 50 years. Even at our first meeting he had a hunger to be the best and was willing to work as hard and as long as it took. When he was not on stage, he was loving, respectful and shy. When he was on stage, he was so in charge you would not believe he was the same person.” Smokey Robinson, also known as the King of Motown for the many classics he wrote and recorded for the label describes the late King of Pop as simply “awesome”. “He was the greatest child that I’d ever seen singing and dancing. I’d never seen anybody like him. He was one of a kind. Michael was my little brother and when we were in touch we were very close. I haven’t been in touch with Michael for years because he isolated himself from almost everyone. But still, he was my little brother.” Notwithstanding Michael’s undeniable star power, which was apparent even in the Jackson brothers’ 1968 Motown audition tape, he scaled groundbreaking artistic heights and reaped unprecedented commercial success with the release of his first two solo albums. Released in 1979 just prior to Michael’s 21st birthday, “Off The Wall”, the first full length collaboration between Michael and celebrated jazz musician/producer Quincy Jones, offered an irresistible pop-dance hybrid offset by a few compelling ballads (Rolling Stone rated “Off The Wall” as the 68th Greatest Album of All Time in 1987). Michael’s by now fully sophisticated and brilliantly nuanced vocals are evidenced throughout this consummate work, the first album to have generated four U.S. top 10 hits. He is the introspective forlorn crooner on the heartbreaking ballad “She’s Out of My Life”, a hard to resist dance floor suitor on the gently seductive “Rock With You”, and an absolutely mesmeric sonic force on the funky-pop-disco gem “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” (the latter two songs each topped the Billboard Hot 100). Inexplicably, “Off The Wall” failed to earn any major Grammy Award nominations (Michael won for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough”) but eventually sold over 20 million copies worldwide, prior to Michael’s death. Those stellar achievements, however, did not satisfy Michael who thought the album should have been bigger, according to his biographer J. Randy Taraborrelli. In his book Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, Taraborrelli recounts the disappointment Michael expressed when Rolling Stone refused to put him on their cover. “I’ve been told that black people on magazines’ covers doesn’t sell copies,” Michael reportedly told Taraborrelli. “Someday those magazines are going to be begging me for an interview. Maybe I’ll give them one. And maybe I won’t. Michael got that Rolling Stone cover in 1983 (his image graced the publication’s front six times in his life and he posthumously adorns a commemorative issue)
and plenty others too as he attained a success level befitting his lofty standards with the November 1982 release of his sophomore album, his magnum opus, the iconic “Thriller”. Produced by Quincy Jones, “Thriller” merited 8 Grammy Awards and remained in the Billboard 200’s top 10 for 80 consecutive weeks, 37 of those weeks spent at the peak position. The album spawned a staggering seven Hot 100 top 10 singles (a feat matched only by Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in The U.S.A, released in 1984 and (sister) Janet Jackson’s 1989 release “Rhythm Nation 1814”), including the thrashing rock epic “Beat It”; the haunting R&B-funk classic “Billie Jean” highlighted by Michael’s hiccupped, quavering vocals; “Wanna Be Startin’ Something”, driven by intoxicating dance rhythms and a chanted African inspired chorus; the tender ballad “Lady In My Life” and the cloying but nonetheless enormously popular “The Girl Is Mine”, featuring Paul McCartney. Michael’s pliant, exquisite timbre dazzled throughout this masterwork which crisscrossed several genres and even included a horror film inspired title track (punctuated by Vincent Price’s inimitably ghoulish laughter) with an accompanying video that single handedly revolutionized the format. John Landis directed the 14 minute “Thriller” clip, which offered a complex story line, riveting dance moves and daring special effects; along with the mysterious neo-noir stylization of the “Billie Jean” video and the rousing homage to West Side Story’s warring/dancing gangs in “Beat It”, the “Thriller” video took
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fashion [COVER STORY]
Michael’s popularity to vertiginous peaks and helped to galvanize the importance of MTV, which paid $1 million for the exclusive rights to air it. A generation later, “Thriller” continues to exert a profound influence. Trinidadian soca superstar Machel Montano transposed the painted blue devils and mud slathered phantoms that roam the streets at Carnival’s predawn J’ouvert celebration into a 2007 “Thriller” tribute with the video to his hit song “Jumbie”. “I and so many others owe our careers to him, he encouraged my dream,” acknowledged Machel who is also a former child star. “Seeing Michael Jackson’s moves made me want to go into music. So much of what I have done has been inspired by him, his standards have set the stage for my goals.”
through the remainder of his life, media across the world were obsessed with Michael’s changing features and his eccentric lifestyle. In 1988 he purchased his infamous Neverland Ranch in Los Olivos, California for $17 million, which he outfitted with amusement park rides, a zoo, even a movie theater and he would regularly open his home to unprivileged or sick children. But the Peter Pan like innocence associated with Neverland took a tawdry turn in 1993 when Michael was accused of molesting two 13year old teenage boys. The first allegation came from Jordan Chandler; following the teen’s refusal to testify against Michael, the singer reached an out of court settlement with the Chandler family for $22 million. (Several Internet postings the week of Michael’s death, allegedly coming from Jordan, said that Michael never touched him in an inappropriate manner.) In 2003 Michael was charged with seven counts of sexual abuse against Gavin Arvizo, followed by a grand jury indictment, which concluded in June 2005 with the jury’s acquittal on all counts. (The court appointed mental health professional said Michael was a regressed 10-year-old and he did not fit the profile of a pedophile). The resultant stress from the trial and its tarnishing effects on his reputation reportedly so devastated Michael it led to his use and subsequent addiction to painkillers.
On March 6, 2009 Thriller was certified 28 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of at least 28 million copies in the US giving it Double Diamond Award status. The week following Michael’s death “Thriller” sold 402,000 copies and it is estimated to have sold a jaw dropping 110 million copies worldwide, making it, by far, the best selling album of all time. Tommy Mottola, former head “I’ve been told that black people on of Sony Records, called Michael the “cornerstone magazines’ covers doesn’t sell copies. of the entire music industry who bridged the gap between rhythm and blues and made it into a global Someday those magazines are going to be culture.” begging me for an interview. Maybe I’ll give
them one. And maybe I
Furthering Michael’s planetary influence throughout the 80s and 90s were his inimitable sartorial statements: the patent leather suit accented by a red bow tie in the Billy Jean video; the red leather, multi zippered jacket, black loafers and white socks that became synonymous with “Beat It”, the silver and black sequined ensemble that was nearly as dazzling as Michael’s dance steps during his 1983 appearance on the Motown 25th Anniversary TV broadcast; the blue satin silk shirt, cream knit tie, spats and white fedora he donned for the “Smooth Criminal” video; the kohl rimmed eyes, black biker jacket and Jheri curls sported on the cover of 1987’s “Bad” and the strong shouldered, sequined military-styled jackets he favored for such special events as his appearance in the all star “We Are The World” video, attending the Grammy Awards with escorts Brooke Shields and (child actor) Emanuel Lewis or heading to the White House to meet Ronald and Nancy Reagan. However, it was the single white glove adorned with sequins that became Michael’s most easily recognized fashion item (at Michael’s funeral each of his brothers wore a single tributary white glove). More than an inspired style trend, the glove helped to disguise a skin disorder called Vitiligo, a condition that produces patches of skin devoid of pigment, which is especially noticeable on people of color. Michael disclosed his ailment in a 1993 interview on the Oprah Winfrey show (watched by some 90 million viewers) a conversation that also hurled charges of abuse at his father; a few days later Michael’s condition was confirmed at a press conference held by his dermatologist Dr. Arnold Klein. Following Michael’s death actress Cicely Tyson told CNN’s Don Lemon that she and Michael shared a designer who created the sequined glove specifically to conceal Michael’s skin malady. “Michael’s Vitiligo started on his hand and the glove was made to cover it. I know that because I was there when it was created,” she said. The Vitiligo diagnosis plausibly clarified Michael’s ever lightening, heavily made up complexion but it didn’t explain the leaner nose, the wider almond contoured eyes, thinner lips and other facial changes evident since the “Thriller” era, which grew more dramatic with each subsequent album cover or public appearance. Since the mid 80s
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Singer Nisha Kitara was just 17 in 2003 when she lived at the Neverland Ranch for two months (with her mother) where she recorded with Michael their as of yet unreleased duet “Wonderful World won’t.” of Candy”. Nisha was in “disbelief” when she heard – Michael Jackson about the pedophilia charges leveled against Michael. “Seeing him everyday and how he opened his heart to me and my mom, it just didn’t seem possible,” she said in an August 2009 interview from her Phoenix, Arizona home. Nisha recalled an instance when Michael gave her and her mother keys to the Neverland main house and told them whenever they were hungry to go in and have whatever they wanted. “We could go anywhere at anytime at Neverland, that is how Michael was,” she reminisced, “so I don’t see how anything bad could have happened in a place that was so open.” The unrelenting, maligning accusations, the heavily publicized staged marriages to Lisa Marie Presley and Debbie Rowe and a contrived coronation that crowned Michael the King of Pop (by Liz Taylor) among other ill advised antics shifted emphasis away from the exceptional music he continued to make well into the 21st century. From 1987’s “Bad” which produced five consecutive number one singles to 1991’s “Dangerous” Michael’s fastest-selling U.S. album with four million copies shipped in under two months to 2001’s “Invincible” his final studio release which received negligible promotion from Sony (due to Michael’s announcement he was leaving the label) yet went on to sell 10 million copies, all were obscured by “Thriller’s” audio and visual mastery and unrivaled sales tallies. With his passing Michael Jackson’s fans and detractors will hear with greater clarity the cry of the planet he hauntingly echoed throughout the epic, environmentally conscious “Earth Song”, the obliteration of racial stereotypes he so persuasively demanded on “Black or White” and his seemingly limitless generosity that inspired “Heal The World” (also the name of his charity which airlifted tons of food to war torn Sarajevo, donated millions to the poor and instituted drug and alcohol abuse education programs). In that 1992 hit Michael urged us to make the world a better place; that is the least we owe him for his decades of contributions towards that goal.
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Body ESCAPE & Soul [Beyonce's JAMAICA Legs]
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Fitness Expert Mark Jenkins'
Steps To Beyonce's Killer Legs
Ok, so maybe Beyonce was born with a particularly gorgeous set of gams, but that doesn’t mean we all can’t maximize our own. The dancing, singing, acting diva may have just wrapped her global tour in Port of Spain, but here’s the inside scoop on getting those legs from celebrity trainer Mark Jenkins.
1. Make squats your first leg exercise to maximize their effect. (And get them out of the way!) 2. Lift heavy. Never fear, it won’t bulk you up if your diet is right. 3. Rest 30 seconds only between sets - keeps your heart rate up. 4. Stretch between sets – we don’t want you getting injured. 5. Step backwards when you lunge - works glutes better. 6. Drink a gallon of water a day. Yes, really. Your whole body and your complexion will thank you for it. 7. Include sprints in your leg training. 8. Work quads and hamstrings first (major muscle groups), before inner and outer thigh (minor groups). 9. Visualize the results: Think about how you want your legs to look as you’re training them. 10. Make legs the first body part you train during the week. 11. Don’t lock your knees during squats and lunges in order to keep constant tension on the muscle. 12. Incorporate free weights and train in unstable environments –(balance boards are great) to activate all muscle fibers. 13. Don’t over train your legs - once a week hard is all you need. 14. Don’t neglect your calves! 15. Change your workout every month or so - keeps your body adapting and you from quitting from boredom. 16. Jump rope between sets to keep your heart rate in the fat burning zone. 17. Flex leg muscles between sets to help with definition and isolation. 18. Include stair climbing in your leg training - great for the glutes. 19. Switch the side you carry bags or purses on - most women are at least 1 to 2 inches bigger on one side due to this. 20. Have fun with your workouts! Find an activity you enjoy that gives you a great leg workout, like jogging or kickboxing.
Celebrity Trainer Mark Jenkins 76
fashion [curacao]
Curacao casual Photographers: Contarsy-Karecha
hiffon orange dress by Emanuel Ungaro. C Orange swimsuit by Plein Sud. Shoes by Emanuel Ungaro.
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Fashion [curacao]
White Satin dress by Emanuel Ungaro. Shoes and belt by Emanuel Ungaro
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Fashion [curacao]
hiffon violet maxi dress C by Dsquared. Shoes by Emanuel Ungaro
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fashion [curacao]
Brown jumpsuit by Yves Saint Laurent. Shoes by Gianvito Rossi
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Fashion [curacao]
Black chiffon Dress Yves Saint Laurent. Shoes by Gianvito Rossi. Black Vintage scarf by Nina Ricci.
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fashion [curacao]
Chiffon Sea Green dress by Emanuel Ungaro. Shoes by Berny Demore. Belt by Emanuel Ungaro
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Fashion [curacao]
Chiffon violet maxi dress by Dsquared. Shoes by Emanuel Ungaro
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fashion [curacao] [New York]
Dress by Gardem. Bikini bottoms by Bend Sport Couture. Shoes by Gianvito Rossi
Producers: Christie Dinham & Tyron Barrington Productions Stylist: Stylist: Assistant: Rita Shin Make up: Merrell Hollis Hair: Rochelle Rowe-Walters Production Coordinator: Tridome Media Hotel: Papagayo Beach Resort. www.papagayobeachresort.com Special Thanks: Yvette Bakker and the staff of the Papagayo Beach Resort, Dennis Eauschia, and the Curacao Tourist Board.
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THE BENCHMARK OF QUALITY, PRECISION, STYLE AND VALUE.
R
C CROTONGROUP INC.
Green Vortex
“THE WATCH TO WATCH” on:
WWW.CROTONWATCH.COM
Cofee Shop [Newshop York] Coffee
Ocean Splash! Editor Chie Davis has the pleasure of interviewing celebrities, personalities, designers and any number of other fascinating people for her weekly Coffee Shop. Step inside with a sampling of some recent interviews.
Sushma Patel
Fashion Designer
India l Lives in: Atlanta, GA
Why You Know Her Recognized as India’s premier couture designer, Sushma Patel is the couturier to Bollywood stars and India’s fashion conscious jet setters. Her vibrant, detailed collections have been shown on runways throughout the world including New York Fashion Week and, recently, Caribbean Fashion Week. Patel is firmly driven by one goal “…to make traditional Indian clothing more versatile so that it can be internationally admired”. Coffee Shop with Sushma Patel Favorite classic designer? Elie Saab from Lebanon. His style of design is so (sic) unique, versatile and elegant. Favorite place in the world to relax? In Malta. I enjoy going to their beaches, spas for massages and the fresh juices that they sell. Good luck charm? In the Indian culture money is given to you for good luck. You are supposed to keep it without spending… Describe your perfect day. A lazy Monday when I get to relax and watch TV 3 thoughts that usually run through your mind before going to bed? Color, clothes and what I am going to do next - new ideas… I get my inspiration for my collections from different natural elements like culture, water and fire.
Freddie Leiba
Celebrity Fashion Stylist
Trinidad & Tobago l Lives in: New York, NY
Why You Know Him. Fashion stylist extraordinaire, tastemaker and commentator, Freddie has worked with every major photographer of the past two decades and magazines from Interview to Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle to Rolling Stone. The list of celebrities he has worked include such powerhouses as Janet Jackson, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Madonna, and soprano great Renee Fleming. We caught up with him in his apartment overlooking Central Park in New York. Coffee Shop with Freddie Leiba What’s your favorite movie of all time? If I want to see something that makes me feel good, it’s Singing in the Rain, with Gene Kelly. I l also love Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. What has been your coolest retail find in the most unusual spot? I found a beautiful embroidered waist coat from the 18th century in a bazaar in Egypt. I still wear it if I go to a black tie affair. I must have had it now for about 15 years. Favorite splurge? Buying two Hermes cashmere blankets…which is totally decadent but fabulous! Favorite skin care trick? I don’t take care of my skin. I should have one but I don’t…soap……a shotgun? What have you done to go green? Nothing! GREEN, no! I drink water. I like furs - I have no problems there. I think GREEN belongs on trees. Have you joined Twitter? No, and I never will….I thought Twitter was some sort of horrible disease when I first heard the name; like I’d have to go get a shot or something to prevent it.
Meiling
Fashion Designer
Trinidad & Tobago l Lives in: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Why you Know Her: Coined the Caribbean’s ‘Queen of Minimalism,’ Trinidadian designer Meiling, recognized by her signature black wardrobe and reserved demeanor, prefers to stay out of the spotlight. While the celebrated designer may appear shy, her work is highly regarded and renowned throughout the region. She is especially recognized for her excellence with fine linens and natural fabrics. In 2008 Meiling was recognized with the prestigious “Grand Master of Fashion Design” award at Caribbean Fashion Week in Jamaica. Coffee Shop with Meiling If you could only bring 1 luxury item to a deserted island what would you bring? A toss up between my comfy linen PJs and La Mer moisturizer ... may I take both? Who would you most enjoy inviting to dinner? Where would you dine? I would love to go back in time and dine with Coco Chanel at her Paris apartment, which is still in tact If your life had a theme song, what would it be? “She Works Hard for the Money” by Donna Summer Do you have a different "alias" name for yourself when you're having an all together good hair and fashion day? Miss M Favorite wild animal My crazy cat, Betsey Johnson. She acts like a wild animal when she's hungry.
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Fashion [barbados] JAMAICA
weekend
Getaway Get way, way away, away, to to Barbados. Barbados. Grab Grab your your carry-on and fill it with a few perfectly picked pieces. Our couple knows how to maximize their time and their carry on capacity with outfits for day-dreaming, day‑dreaming, dining and dancing. phohotography: robert Robert Manella WORDS: Dominique Jackman WorDS:
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fashion [barbados] [barbados]
Her:  Alice Ritter - tunic dress with embroidered yoke, Him: Emporio Armani -tuxedo shirt, DKNY- Bermuda short
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Fashion [barbados]
Haspel - seersucker suit, Public School - Polo
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fashion [barbados] [barbados]
Her: Rubin Chapelle – Yellow Silk Dress, A. Testoni – Calfskin Wedges Him: STPL- Shirt, RAG- Cotton Pant
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Fashion [barbados]
Her: ?-Alice Ritter - High Waist Pant, A. Testoni - Wedge Sandals Him: Eddie Bauer – V-neck Sweater, Armani Exchange - Cargo Short, CLAE - Shoe, GUESS?- Eyewear
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fashion [barbados] [barbados]
Her: Nolita –Cowl Neck Sweater, Alice Ritter – Pant, Michel Perry - Shoe, A. Testoni - Bag, Kate Spade Sunglasses Him: Yoko Devereux - V-neck tee, STUSSEY- Cotton Pant, Y-3 Pony Hair Belt, Cartier Watch, CLAE - Shoe
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Fashion [barbados]
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fashion [barbados] [barbados] [New York]
Her: Chris Hahn - Silk Mini-Dress, Moschino - Scarf, Kate Spade sunglasses, Haviana - Flip Flops Him: Yoko Devereux Vest and T-shirt, Operation pant, Armani Exchange Flip Flops
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Fashion [barbados]
Her: Chris Hahn - Silk Mini-Dress, Moschino - Scarf, Kate Spade sunglasses, Haviana - Flip Flops H m: Yoko Devereux Vest and T-shirt, Operation pant, Armani Exchange Flip Flops
photo credits: Fashion Stylist: Carlton Jones Stylist Assistant: Ric Mathews Hair & Make-Up: Rosemary Redlin Production: Martha Birdsong Dunning Models: Alexis Rios, Alexandra Eleuterio
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MONEY & INVESTING NEWLY WED FINANCE
Better or For orse W
For
Get your marital union off to a solid beginning, with some expert tips from Wells Fargo Advisors.
T
he wedding is over, but your life as a couple has just begun. As a team working together for the first time, there are many adjustments you will have to make in the first year together. Of course, you must approach the small stuff like laundry duties and dishes, but one of your main priorities should be working to establish your financial foundation. Something Old: Throughout life’s many milestones, the memories of your past will inevitably serve as a guide when you are setting goals for the years to come. When two people decide to unite in matrimony, they are bringing together their memories, traditions, habits and goals in order to form a partnership that includes everything from family to finances, so be prepared. Talk about your priorities and what really matters to each of you when it comes to money. What your parents valued and how you were exposed to money as a child will have a large influence on your fiscal future, so it is important to communicate openly about your past and how it may play into your short and long term financial goals. Something New: As newlyweds, you will no doubt face many new and exciting challenges together. This is a time for many new beginnings so you will need to make various transitional adjustments as you move forward. First, you will need to complete a number of administrative duties that come with the legal and financial ties of marriage. Make a will or update your will so the list of beneficiaries for your investment accounts and savings
accounts include your spouse. Review your beneficiary designations on your retirement accounts and life insurance policies since they will override any wishes specified in your will. It is also important to review your life insurance coverage to make sure things are in order should something happen to you. When it comes to health insurance, you typically have 30 days after your marriage to add your spouse to your coverage without
One of the first things you should do as a married couple is work to eliminate credit card debt so you can begin building a nest egg. providing evidence of insurability. Also, if you changed your name, be sure to get a new social security card and driver’s license and update your accounts. After these steps are taken care of, calculate your combined net worth, develop a budget and decide on the process you will use to manage your financial affairs. Will you have a joint bank account or will you handle certain bills separately from individual accounts? You will also need to decide which one of you will be responsible for paying the bills and taking care other financial tasks. Something Borrowed: One of the first things you should do as a married couple is work to eliminate credit card debt so you can begin building a nest egg. After the big
wedding, you may be better or worse off than the average American who owes at least $9,000 in credit card debt.* Whatever your situation, it is most likely that you can’t afford to fall deeper into debt than you already are. Money that you’ve borrowed in the past on credit just puts you further from your financial goals as a couple. Something Blue: When you are building your budget, don’t forget to set aside an emergency fund for a rainy day. Develop a regular savings plan where you automatically defer a portion of your monthly earnings into a separate savings account. During an emotional or unexpected situation, this preparation could prevent the added burden of financial stress at an already difficult time. As newlyweds, the excitement of life together may seem overwhelming at times, especially when it comes to your financial situation. But, if you work together to follow a few simple steps, you can surpass these challenges in order to establish a solid financial strategy that will carry you into the future. *Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Ky-Ann Phillip-Rowe, Financial Advisor in Coral Springs, Florida at 954-796-5206. Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC, is a registered broker-dealer and a separate non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company.
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wine & dine [chaud profile]
Khalid Mohammed Chaud Restaurant Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago By Deborah Grisham
W
hether in Port of Spain for business or leisure, a ‘must visit’ for a gastronomic delight, is Chef Khalid Mohammed’s exquisite Chaud Restaurant.
Mohammed is well known throughout the twin-island republic for his creative and flavorsome cuisine. Having first worked at and then been partner in several successful restaurant ventures, Chaud allowed him to leverage his reputation and his talent to bring a world-class fine dining experience to the heart of the City. Chaud is located around the Queen’s Park Savannah (which holds the distinction of being the world’s largest roundabout). Adding to the ambience and its modern, sophisticated, décor is the local artwork adorning the walls. All the pieces are available for sale and you can find the prices for each one at your table. An artist at the stove, Chef Mohammed, prepares locally inspired masterpieces for his constantly changing dinner menu such as a lamb Carpaccio appetizer with Tabouleh salad, Rabbit Three Ways (stewed legs, roasted loin and seared sausage), pepper jelly glazed chicken, whole roasted red snapper with crispy pepper squid or the geera crusted lamb loin and slow cooked lamb moussaka. All of which can be followed by one of the yummy desserts which range from banana crème brulee to warm carrot bundt cake with rum and raisin ice cream or the Chaud sundae – a decadent affair that starts with dulce de leche and vanilla ice cream and ends with caramelized apples, marsmallow fluff, pine nut brittle, chocolate fudge and butterscotch. Dieters beware. We recommend the main course of the pepper pot beef which is rich and spicy. They also have a fantastic selection of sea food. The scallops with almonds, is particularly divine. The food reflects Mohammed’s flair and mix of international flavor with local tastes. The local palette is a mix of Amerindian, European, African, Creole, Indian, Chinese and Lebanese gastronomic influences The service is top notch. The staff are extremely helpful, well dressed and understand the meaning of the fine dining experience. We eagerly await our return visit to Chaud. There are simply too many edible works of art waiting to be consumed not to visit again. And Again. And Again.
Photo: Calvin French. Chaud. 100
Life didn’t begin in Barbados, it was just perfected here. We invite you to come master the art of fine living at VisitBarbados.org
wine & dine [recipe]
Guava BBQ Diver Scallops
Roasted In Applewood Smoked Bacon with Petit Pois ‘Crush’
By Khalid Mohammed / Chaud Restaurant
Scallops • 12 X U10 Diver Scallops • 12 Slices Applewood Smoked Bacon • 1 tbsp. Olive Oil • Guava BBQ Sauce (Recipe Follows)
Method Dry scallops and season with salt & pepper. Heat non stick sauté pan, add olive oil, then sear scallops (1 Min), Baste with Guava BBQ Sauce, then place in the oven for 3-5 minutes depending on the thickness of the scallop. Serve with petit pois crush.
Bbq. Sauce • 4 oz. Butter • 1 Onion (Peeled & Diced) • 1 Tbsp. Garlic (Puree) • ½ Tbsp. Ginger (Puree) • 1 Tbsp. Tomato Paste • 4 Cups Ketchup • 1 Tbsp. Worsterchire Sauce • 1 Tbsp. Soy Sauce • ¼ Cup Brown Sugar • ¼ Cup Guava Puree • ¼ Cup Apple Cider Vinegar. • 1 Tbsp. Chopped Thyme • 1 Tbsp. Chopped Shado Beny
Method Melt butter in a heavy bottom saucepot, sweat the Onion, Garlic & Ginger, add remaining ingredients and simmer for 1 hour. Blend then Strain.
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This lovely villa offers a panoramic seaview from Scarborough to Crown Point and takes full advantage of the cooling trade winds. The villa has three ensuite bedrooms all with ensuite bathrooms, spacious living and dining areas, large open-plan kitchen, the pool area has open decks for sun tanning and a large gazebo with built in bar ideal for “liming�.
Contact:
Marguerite Gordon (868) 637-9216 (e) marguerite.gordon@gmail.com
Fashion [turks + caicos]
White translucent jellyfish bolero –Yeohlee.
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Off-white knit batwing dress –Krelwear.
Photography: J ulia
Pogodina
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Fashion [turks + caicos]
Black asymmetrical dress – Iris Loeffler. Slate grey gathered neckpiece – American Apparel.
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fashion [turks + caicos]
White sleeveless long jersey dress 窶的ris Loeffler.
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Fashion [turks + caicos]
Black jersey bodysuit –Yeohlee. Grey wool wrap jacket –Iris Loeffler. Black open toe boots –Dusica Dusica.
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fashion [turks + caicos]
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Fashion [turks + caicos]
Light grey draped dress –Preen. Grey tights –Wolford. Black satin strapped heels –Dusica Dusica.
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fashion [turks + caicos]
Light tan convertible dress –Don the Verb. Grey silk satin open toe boots –Tanya Spinelli.
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Fashion [turks + caicos]
Silver molten metal black mobius dress –Yeohlee. Black open toe boots –Dusica Dusica.
Style Make-Up, Hair, Manicure Model
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: : :
Dina Yassin (www.dmdstyle.com) Anetta Klemens (www.anettaklemens.com) Lisa Jackson (MAJOR)
Ciao Bella!
Simplicity sim-plis-i-tee – noun, plural-ties.
1. The state, quality, or an instance of being simple. 2. Freedom from complexity, intricacy, or division into parts: an organism of great simplicity. 3. Absence of luxury, pretentiousness, ornament, etc.; plainness: a life of simplicity. 4. Freedom from deceit or guile; sincerity; artlessness; naturalness: a simplicity of manner.
Photo Credits: Beachside. Sandals Emerald Bay Exuma, Bahamas / Photography: dkg
“Simplicity is the ultimate “
sophistication.
—Leonardo da Vinci
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