The Tribune
Friday, September 9, 2016
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Weekend
meet the pirates Page 10
Dancing on air Famed NYC troupe steps it up in Nassau Entertainment, page 11
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 9, 2016
life through a lens
Sailing through time Marine scientist captures a bygone era Starting in 1958, Dr Jack Fell, Professor Emeritus of marine science at the University of Miami, set out to extensively explore the Bahamas in a small sailboat. He took many photos of his travels and has a collection of pictures of the beautiful Bahamian waters, as well as of scenes from the Nassau Harbour dating back to 1961. Dr Fell also conducted research in the Bahamian mangroves while sailing on University of Miami research ships. He is currently a science advisor to Bahamas Marine Ecocentre, a Bahamian non-profit organisation with a research station on Little Darby Island in the Exumas.
Have you taken a selection of photographs that might make a Life through a lens feature page? If so please submit it to weekend@ tribunemedia.net for consideration
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Friday, September 9, 2016
Inside Weekend Interview 4 - 5 Cara Hunt talks to Keisha Pinder, this year’s winner of the “Cancer Survivor Wedding in Paradise” contest. Food 7 The Russell family brings the Louisiana coffee house experience to Nassau.
Art 8 - 9 K Smith proves he’s the “Master of Mediums”, plus Matthew Wildgoose focuses on the “Good, Bad and Ogly”.
Entertainment 10 - 12 Prestigious NYC dance company performs in Nassau; the Pirate Republic experience, plus James Catalyn and Friends present ‘Summer Madness 2016’.
Pageants 13 Miss Universe Bahamas contestants show off national costumes.
Weddings 14 -15 Kevin Darville and Rachel Rafael find their happy ever after .
Podcasts 17 Go beyond the silver screen Music 18 - 19 Rashad Leamount bares all with new single, plus Wendi Lewis kicks off “The Business Tour”. Literary Lives 22 - 25 Canadian novelist Katherine Govier unlocks the secrets behind John James Audubon’s monumental bird paintings.
Forgotten Facts 25 The Exuma Cays in 1929.
Puzzles 26 Animals 27 Kim Aranha on loving all of God’s creatures.
Gardening 28 Jack Hardy on peppers hot and sweet. Cover Photo | Eduardo Patino
My perfect Bahamian weekend Coffi Johnson International client desk manager and travel enthusiast
Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday brunch? “Saturday brunch because most of the time you are rushing around all week and it’s refreshing to be able to sit down and have a leisurely breakfast without having any fixed plans.” Q: Beach or sofa? “Now with the threat of Zika – the sofa.” Q: Wine, Kalik or cocktail? “Definitely cocktail. I like anything fruity or sweet – you know, “girly” drinks.
Q: What is one thing you can’t live without? “Wi-Fi. It’s 2016, you have to be connected. I like to know everything that happens exactly when it happens.”
Q: Weekend away where; would you go? “I’ve always wanted to go camping in the woods in a real tent and go whitewater rafting. Do they have WiFi in the woods? Hmm OK... camping in a cabin with Wi-Fi.”
Things 2 Do this weekend Friday • “She Shall Be Called Woman” stage play Time: 7pm Venue: Crush, Coral Towers, Atlantis With a cast of 15, the show hopes to open up the conversation about the topic of modern womanhood through song, dance, drama, spoken word and other forms of art. Tickets are $35. • “Dance Like David” Back-toSchool Gospel House Party Time: 7pm - 11pm Venue: Bahamas Union of Teachers Hall, Stapledon Gardens Teens are invited to enjoy games, prizes, surprises and music by DJ Flo. For more information call 465-4862 or e-mail jkami2016@yahoo.com. Admission is $10. The event is presented by Jubilee Kingdom Ambassadors. • Island Rock Concert Series Time: 9pm Venue: Hard Rock Café Hosted by Sawyerboy TV, this weekend’s instalment features a performance by Judah Tha Lion. This six-month long concert series will culminate in the patrons’ favourite band winning a trip to an
international Hard Rock to play live. Admission $10 at the door. Proceeds go to Royal Nassau Skate Park.
Saturday • Girls’ Conference – “Living Life Purposefully” Time: 3pm Venue: Holy Cross Anglican Church Cheryl Knowles hosts the Sapphire International event which seeks to help young women find their purpose. Entertainment will be provided by Christian Massive, DJ Godson and Godsent Muzic Artists, Lenelle Michelle & P3Mime. Guest speaker will be Pastor Tiffany Reid. Admission is $5 and food and drinks will be available. Tickets can be purchased at the Classy Loft Boutique and the Catwalk Boutique on Robinson Road. Call 558-8909 or e-mail sapphiregclb@gmail.com for more information. • K Smith’s “Medium of the Masters, Master of the Medium” Unveiling Time: 3pm - 5pm Venue: National Art Gallery A champagne reception to unveil one of K Smith’s new drawings. SEE PAGE 8 • Pineridge Back2School Bash
Time: 4pm - 7pm Venue: Susan J Wallace Centre, Columbus Park There will be food, giveaways and more. • “She Shall Be Called Woman” stage play Time: 4pm (“Dance of the Decades” after-party starts at 8pm) Venue: Crush, Coral Towers, Atlantis With a cast of 15, the show hopes to open up the conversation about the topic of modern womanhood through song, dance, drama, spoken word and other forms of art. Tickets are $35, which includes admission into the after-party.
Sunday • Caribbean Wellness Week Fun Run/ Walk Time: 6am Venue: Arawak Cay Join the Bahamas Ministry of Health as they celebrate Caribbean Wellness Week. The route leads from Arawak Cay to West Bay Street, on to the Cable Beach Post Office and back to Arawak Cay. There is no registration fee and free water and fruit will be on offer. E-mail lifestylecounsellor64@ gmail.com or call Nathelyn LaCroix at 323-0610 for more information.
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Friday, September 9, 2016
interview After weathering the storms of a devastating cancer diagnosis, Keisha Pinder has found her safe harbour and is now ready to start life anew. She tells Cara Hunt all about the love of her life and the dream wedding she will having thanks to winning a very special contest by Five Seasons Bridal.
Keisha Pinder C ancer is unfortunately a disease Keisha Pinder and Jamaahl Hunt are intimately acquainted with. It claimed the life of both Jamaahl’s wife of 13 years and his mother within the span of a month. And Keisha discovered that she had ovarian cancer at the age of 37, forcing her to have a hysterectomy and ending her hopes of ever carrying a child. But now, the two are looking forward to brighter days and new beginnings, thanks to Five Seasons Bridal, which recently announced that Keisha and Jamaahl were the winners of the third annual “Cancer Survivor in Paradise” dream wedding. “It is just a blessing; I am overjoyed,” Keisha told Tribune Weekend as she admitted to crying when she got the news that she had won an all-expenses paid dream wedding and reception. “It’s everyone’s dream to have a nice wedding without having to worry about the money it costs,” she said. This is especially true after a year of medical bills. Keisha’s cancer battle be-
gan about two years ago when she went to her gynaecologist after she experienced irregular menstrual cycles. “I had always been irregular but I had a period which lasted for almost a month and my gynaecologist Dr Austin Davis referred me to an oncologist,” she said. “They wanted me to do further tests and so I had to travelled to the States. They did an MRI and a CT scan, which revealed that I had ovarian cancer.” The cancer was at stage one, but it was still recommended that she have a full hysterectomy. “It was a very rough time for me. The whole idea that you know that you won’t be able to get pregnant, it led to me being very depressed and so I had to go through all of that. Fortunately, I had my family and friends around who were just there for me every step of the way.” Keisha also found a new supporter in Jamaahl, whom she met while in Grand Bahama the year before her cancer diagnosis. “We met while she was on trip there,” said Jamaahl, who works as a tugboat caption in
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Friday, September 9, 2016
Photos/Clifton L Barry
Freeport. “We just started talking back and forth, and then travelling between Nassau and Freeport.” The pair had an automatic connection, he said. “I really started to care for her and her family. We have a really good time together and so we started talking about marriage, and one day I just went for it and asked her to marry me while we were driving. I will never forget the look on her face.” Jamaahl was in the unique position to be able to offer Keisha support and understanding, as he had undergone his own struggle with the disease. “I was married for 13 years and my wife had died from cancer, and my mother who also had cancer died about a month after my wife. So with Keisha, I could relate to some of what she was going through and I could understand her pain,” the widower said. He admits, however, that it was not easy to stop the fear of what could happen from creeping into his mind. But he tried to stay positive and pray for Keisha as she fought the disease. “I just tried to focus on the future,” he said. The couple were in the process of planning their big day when they met Tennille Darville, the owner of Five Seasons Bridal. Ms Darville, who is herself a cancer survivor, also lost her mother and several close friends to the disease. She created the “Cancer Survivor Wedding in Paradise”, which is now in its third year, as a way to give back to persons who have overcome the disease. “One of my friends had told me about Five Seasons and I was there trying on dresses and we were talking about how expensive weddings were,” said Keisha. “I had already cut back a lot of the things I wanted to do and decided to have a ceremony and then a party that evening. I was trying to save as much money on the wedding as possible, because
I had been off work sick after my hysterectomy and I will be relocating to Freeport. We were talking about the dress and Tennille was saying how sometimes people use them afterwards for christening dresses and I said, well, unfortunately that won’t be me, and that’s how she found out that I had had cancer.” What Keisha did not know was that she had then been entered into the “Cancer Survivor Wedding in Paradise” contest. Jamaahl said he was in shock when Keisha called and told him the news of their win. “I was like, no, it can’t be true; no one just gives you something, but I am just really grateful and appreciative, and God is awesome,” he said. The couple will be married on October 1 at the British Colonial Hilton with a full reception following the ceremony. Keisha has chosen teal as her primary wedding colour, which is the colour used for
ovarian cancer awareness. In a nod to Jamaahl’s career as a boat captain, nautical touches will be used in the décor. Keisha said that she has been blessed to have so many supportive people in her life,
including her team of doctors – Dr Raleigh Butler, Dr David Hallendale – her spiritual mother, Angela Gray, and her godmothers Gloria Neely and Daphne Brennen, as well as her aunt, Lorriane Johnson,
“You need a lot of support when you are going through something like this...Jamaahl has been there for me through it all. He makes sure everything is put together at home and cooks and takes care of me, making sure I have everything that I need.” just to name a few. “You need a lot of support when you are going through something like this. It’s hard to diagnosis ovarian cancer because you can be having your regular mammogram and pap smear, but it won’t be detected until you get the CT scan,” she said. It is now just over a year since her cancer diagnosis and Keisha said all her tests have been negative and she is feeling fine. “Jamaahl has been there for me through it all. He makes sure everything is put together at home and cooks and takes care of me, making sure I have everything that I need.” The couple are now busy making the final preparations for their big day. “I just want to celebrate and be happy,” said the bride. And her husband-to-be said that he is amazed at the amount of planning that goes into a wedding. Jamaahl said: “I am just ready to marry my baby.”
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Friday, September 9, 2016
section
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Friday, September 9, 2016
food Photos/Tim Clarke
A New Orleans experience Russell family opens new coffee house By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
I
t may have a view of the stunning Bahamian waters, but step inside the new Louis and Steen’s New Orleans Coffee House on West Bay Street and you are immediately transported into the heart of Louisiana. The new venue, formerly Traveller’s Rest, is run by the Russell family – Tara and her husband Davin, and his parents Larry and Joyce. It is named after Joyce’s parents – Louis and Ernestine “Steen” Carter. “This is the first really authentic Louisiana styled coffee house in the Bahamas,” said Tara of the business they opened just last week. “My mother-in-law’s family is from Louisiana, and her parents, Louis and Ernestine Carter, always wanted to open a coffee house. Well, two generations later we have opened it on their behalf here in the Bahamas.” At Louis and Steen’s guests can enjoy traditional “N’awlins” fare such as Creole egg croissants, Cajun avocado toast, sweet potato hummus, spicy shrimp and sausage po’ boys, Creole salads, and seafood. For coffee lovers there is an abundance of choices, such as customised pour-over coffees, cappuccinos, lattes and café au laits. For those who prefer less caffeine, there are sweet iced fruit teas, cinnamon spiced masala chai teas, and butter pecan, bourbon caramel or banana cookie custard frappés. Desserts such as sweet potato and pecan pie, as well as macaroons complete the dining experience. “Louisiana food is all about the sea-
The staff at Louis and Steen’s. soning,” explained Joyce Russell. “The taste comes from the blends of onions, oregano, basil and green peppers that are used. It does not make the food ‘hot’, but it will have a kick to it. The best sausage in the world comes from Louisiana. It is made fresh and seasoned to perfection, made by local farmers and you can add different flavours to that. The other big thing is seafood. If you don’t like seafood, don’t go to Louisiana, we use a lot of seafood, especially crayfish, shrimp, alligator, frog legs.” Joyce runs the kitchen at Louis and Steen’s, and the food is an authentic and delicious combination of the Spanish, African and Cajun influences of her parents backgrounds “My father was a pastor (his father was originally from the Canary Islands of Spain) and my mother was a school
teacher. He received the first loan from a bank in his town as a black man and used the fund to build a church and become a developer,” she said. “He was very instrumental in taking black people out of their shabby homes and churches and building beautiful new buildings. In fact, growing up I would walk through the town and he would point out to me the buildings he had helped build. My mother was always baking – sweet potato pie, pecan pie, making snowballs to sell, and the reason she was always baking was that she was working for various church auxiliaries to help raise funds.” Joyce said her father, an avid coffee lover, would often shout out to his wife: “Steen, fix me a swallow of coffee with that sweet potato pie.” “A swallow of coffee was really an espresso,” she explained. The drinks at the new coffee shop are sized – there is a sip, a swallow and a gulp in his honour. Tara says that the shop is truly a family affair. The family members are business partners and the current staff are former Baha Mar employees. Both she and her husband used to work at the mega resort before it experienced its current troubles. The Russell family wants its guests to feel at home, whether it be in the coffee house’s indoor space, which is designed to resemble Josephine Baker’s apartment, or in the outdoor space which includes picnic tables, a swing set and a sandbox. Louis and Steen’s New Orleans Coffee House is open seven days a week from 6.30am to 7pm.
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Friday, September 9, 2016
art
K Smith is the“Master of Mediums”
K
Smith, one of the leading pencil artists in North America and the Caribbean, will be displaying 30 unique drawings in his upcoming exhibition entitled “Medium of the Masters, Master of the Medium”. The show opens on September 8 and runs until October 16 at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas A special unveiling of one of Mr Smith’s drawings and champagne reception will take place on September 10, from 3pm to 5pm. A Canadian-born, Nassaubased artist of 25 years, Mr Smith attributes his skill and artistic aptitude to the fact that his talent is generational. Passed on through generations, this ancestral understanding of creativity, attention to detail and innate skill has led him over the course of his 40-year practice to create some of the most technical hyper-realistic images in graphite and colour pencil in the Bahamas. His hyperrealistic work, the NAGB said, is at its core about elevating the things that may seem commonplace or everyday, things that often receive no more than a cursory glance or passing thought and at times things of resplendent beauty, a beauty so ubiquitous that it becomes ordinary. Mr Smith calls these moments into the spotlight as a gentle reminder for us to pay attention to the simple things in life, the things that often create an opportunity for us to find peace, to question our emotions or to even question the very surface that we are looking at.
In Mr Smith’s hands, the NAGB said, a poinciana flower is elevated to reverential status; the interplay of light and shadow, of depth and dimensionality, of study and attention draws out the physical aspect of any surface, be it a petal, mangrove, seagrape or water. “Alberto Giacometti – one of the historic Western masters – commented that the nature of art is ‘not to reproduce reality but to create a reality of the same intensity.’ It is easy to see how Smith’s work falls into this school of thought and practice. His drawings are at once representational – while doubly appearing at times photographic and illusionary – but as it is with the centuries-old canon of realism, this is still fraught with trickery,” the NAGB said. “After all, what is further from reality than the threedimensional, physical world compressed onto a flat surface, fooling our vision into thinking what we see is as real as our hands in front of us, and not, in fact, the hands of “Miss Emily’s Eleven String” as they weave straw as expertly as Smith makes us believe they are.” The NAGB said these works should not be taken solely as representing the environment around us, though Mr Smith does so with such an uncanny precision and command of the medium. “Though they are technically meticulous in their clarity and reproduction of life, they still carry Mr Smith’s subtle sense of interpretation. The crisp lines, the chiaroscuro and treatment of the light are up to more than his eye – they are his translation of our reality,” the gallery said.
’s Eleven String”
K Smith’s “Miss Emily
’s hyperrealistic work
An example of K Smith
K Smith at work
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Friday, September 9, 2016
art
Matthew Wildgoose showcases the “Good, Bad and Ogly” of Bahamian society By AZALETA ISHMAEL-NEWRY
A
rtist Matthew Wildgoose is sure to inspire interesting conversations when his latest exhibit, “Da Good, Bad & Ogly”, opens at the Central Bank of the Bahamas on September 15. The pieces in the exhibition will showcase the beauty of the Bahamas as well as the different dark facets and enigmas of society. Mr Wildgoose has become famous for his portraits depicting well-known Bahamian personalities such as Ronnie Butler and Sir Harry Oakes. This time, the Grand Bahama native dives into somewhat unchartered waters as he paints a variety of Bahamians. The exhibition includes:icons; persons who had strong convictions regarding their circumstances; those who were adamant in preserving culture; those who wanted to get rich the easy way; and those who struggled with addiction. The artist also depicts the lives of average Bahamians who were affected directly or indirectly by the drug culture of the 1970s and 80s. “I have witnessed the destructive vices that have gripped Bahamian society first-hand and those experiences have helped me create some of the pieces for this exhibition,” he said. “Also, I wanted to highlight the stories that are embedded in our culture.” One piece which stands out is titled “Allegiance”. It symbolises an older rake n’ scrape drummer who is defiant about not losing his traditions to the new Carnival fever. Mr Wildgoose said he feels that it is the people’s weaknesses and strengths that affect society both negatively and positively. Due to this observation, he has chosen to capture some of the topics that are not normally discussed in art. Mr Wildgoose has stepped outside of his typical style of art to focus on some of the unsavory aspects of Bahamian life. He said he considers art a powerful tool to expresss the things that surround
“What Fa Me, Fa Me...” – an 60”x60” acrylic on canvas sold to an art collector and restaurant owner in Atlanta. It was the first piece created by Matthew Wildgoose on the topic of drug culture.
Artist Matthew Wildgoose us. In this exhibition, persons will find that he has succeeded in delivering this message. “Da Good, Bad and Ogly” also includes influencers like rock star Lenny Kravitz and Bahamian basketball player Buddy Hield who represent some of the talent of the 242. The exhibition opens at the art gallery of the Central Bank of
the Bahamas on September at 6.30pm. Mr Wildgoose is also an actor and musician. His work has been part of the Dawn Davies Collection, the Sapodilla Estate, the Hilton British Colonial Hotel, and has been featured in private collections in the Bahamas and abroad. Samples of his work can be found at www.theartofmattwild.com.
National Trust and National Art Gallery partner for festival THE Bahamas National Trust (BNT) and the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas (NAGB) will be formally collaborating for the first time for this year’s BNT Wine and Art Festival scheduled to take place October 28-29. The long-standing cultural event, now in its 26th year, aims to grow its network and fortify itself as the premier arts festival sustaining the local artisans, musicians, culinary artists, and craftspeople of the Bahamas. Over the past years, thousands of visitors have come to look forward to this event which focuses on exposing the diversity in local cuisine, celebrating art and offering a platform for entertainment. This year , the BNT Wine and Art Festival is designed as a two-day event with a refined model that will encapsulate member-driven and exclusive events which will tap into the BNT and the NAGB’s growing network. To shake things up, four new themes will be introduced to the festival. These themes draw on art movements that have influenced the development of Bahamian art, including surrealism, fantasy, tropicalism, landscapes and the everyday. For guidelines on submissions please visit the website http://nagb.org.bs. Deadline for submissions is September 16.
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Friday, September 9, 2016
entertainment
Bahamas’ first craft brewery helps revitalise downtown Nassau PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA
The Pirate Republic experience By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
N
assau’s pirate history comes to life at Woodes Rogers Walk with the help of the country’s only craft brewery which also features a cool gastro pub. The downtown Pirate Republic Brewing Company not only offers guests a busy taproom with dining options, but also a venue for local artists and entertainment events. And pirate impersonator Joseph Garvey sets the tone as he greets patrons who include tourists and Bahamians alike. Looking at the space today, it is hard to imagine that the brewery was once the home of several T-shirt stores. “We are trying to really bring the locals back into downtown, along with the visitors, and have it back to how it use to be,” said Rosanna Caley, Pirates Republic’s brand manager. “Slowly businesses are popping up all over the place downtown and we thought we would come together and really start to revitalise downtown. I think we have done a great job in adding to the look out here. Sharkeez (Bar & Grill) is really great, as well as Via Caffe; they are all very clean. I just hope that more people would come along and create the same vibe that we are trying to do on the back streets here and make it come to life.” The Pirate Republic is quickly becoming a popular venue for live entertainment events and fun
Food is paired with the perfect craft beer at the Pirate Republic activities such as the Beer Olympics, which took place last Saturday. Every Friday, there is live music performance beginning at 9pm featuring a diverse roster of artists. Ms Caley said different artists always bring different crowds, so they try to mix it up as much as possible. “We want everyone to feel comfortable and come and enjoy. We had performances from artists like Judah the Lion, which brought a reggae vibe, and also a band called Subculture, which brought a classic rock style. It is so nice to have the different vibes. Singer Wendi Lewis hosted an event here and she just had an amazing performance and she is so sweet to work with as well,” said Ms Caley. When it comes to the craft beer side of things, Ms Caley said the Pirate Republic founders – the brother and sister team of Stephen Holowesko and Susan Larson – wanted to create something unique for the Bahamas. “Craft beer is a huge thing that has taken off in the United States and it has become very popular in Europe as well. Basically, little brewers around the country would brew their own beer. What we are trying to do with the craft beer is something special and different. More love and effort are being put into it and more flavours are created. We have a system which allows us to work and test different recipes and work on smaller batches. We also have a smaller system that we do smaller testing on, so we always test the product before putting it
into the big tanks,” she said. And once you’ve picked your perfect craft beer, there is an informative lunch menu which suggests the perfect dish to go with your beverage. Pairings include favourites like the beer-steamed mussels with mermaid toast paired with the Island Pirate Ale craft beer. The Island Pirate Ale is brewed with caramel, wheat and aromatic malts. Then there are the Portobello fries with garlic aioli paired with the Captain Kidd’s Kolsch. This is brewed with aromatic and caramel malts with a touch of Munich. Columbus hops provide the balance in this German style hybrid. The crispy cheese grits and pickled shrimp, or the crispy pork milanese with an apple celery salad, are paired with the Gold & Haze of Piracy beer, while the gallery burger with crispy fries is paired with a Long John Pilsner. And of course there is the beer braised bratwurst, which goes best with the Black Beer’d Stout. The Pirate Republic hopes to soon also offer a full restaurant experience. The space is already there and features some interesting theme-appropriate art. “We had Antonious Roberts come down and he has created some amazing pirate art upstairs, which is going to be the restaurant where we will have dinner seating available. The artwork upstairs are portraits of all of the famous pirates that were here in the Bahamas. We are hoping to open for dinner by the beginning of October,” said Ms Caley.
Pirate portraits by Antonious Roberts grace the walls of what is to become the new restaurant.
Pirate impersonator Joseph Garvey greets guests
The art of brewing craft beer
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Friday, September 9, 2016
entertainment
Prestigious NYC dance troupe stages showcase in Nassau PHOTO/EDUARDO PATINO
By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
O
NE of the most celebrated dance companies in the United State will makes it way to the Bahamas for a world-class showcase later this month. Ailey II, the junior ensemble of New York’s renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, will paying its third visit to the country. They first travelled to Nassau in the 1980s, and again in 2007 for the 15th anniversary of the National Dance Company of the Bahamas. This time, Ailey II’s visit will be held under the auspices of the National Dance Company of the Bahamas and Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group. While here, they will host a performance on September 24 at the Atlantis Theatre, conduct dance workshops and master classes for students and teachers, as well as visit schools in the inner-city communities of New Providence. Robert Bain of the National Dance Company of the Bahamas told Tribune Weekend that one of the main benefits of the upcoming showcase is that it will broaden the perspective of local dancers as to what they can achieve. “This came about because I felt that we needed to make some changes in the way we treat our dancers. We need to give their dancers an opportunity to develop and grow, so I wanted to do the same thing through dance and education. The reason for this is two-fold – to further educate our dancers by offering them scholarships, and to assist with the Sister Sister Breast Cancer organisation,” he said. Mr Bain said the idea for the showcase came from Courtney Celeste Spears, a dancer of Bahamian descent
and the face of Ailey II. “She observed for herself the development in dance (here) and she was quite disappointed. She saw some things that needed to be done so she reached out to me and that was how it began. We want to assist anyone interested in pursuing the art of dance,” he said. For more than 40 years, Ailey II has merged the spirit and energy of America’s best young dance talent with the passion and creative vision of today’s most outstanding emerging choreographers. Founded in 1974, the company embodies Alvin Ailey’s pioneering mission to establish an extended cultural community that provides dance performances, training, and community programmes for all people. Mr Ailey was a choreographer and activist who is credited with popularising modern dance and revolutionising African-American participation in 20th-century concert dance. The critically acclaimed Ailey II has a distinctive company repertory that also includes works by Mr Ailey and other dance masters like Talley Beatty, Donald Byrd, Ulysses Dove, George W Faison, Lar Lubovitch, as well as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre Artistic Director Robert Battle and Artistic Director Emerita Judith Jamison. Ailey II flourished into one of the most popular dance companies in the US under the leadership of Sylvia Waters (1974- 2012), combining a rigorous touring schedule with extensive community outreach programmes. With new Artistic Director Troy Powell at the helm, Ailey II continues to thrive as he brings a fresh dimension to this beloved company. “We are expecting a great show
that best represents Ailey,” said Mr Bain. “We would like everyone to experience it. And the wonderful thing about this process is that it gives our dancers an opportunity to
rub shoulders with these young professionals so that they can see what the possibilities are. There is life outside of the Bahamas and it gives our teachers a chance to see where they are at in terms of what is going on around the world.” Mr Bain added that Ailey II is a very eclectic company whose style ranges from modern to hip hop to ethnic, folk dance and more. “It is the hope of the organising committee that (the showcase) will allow our youth to interact with these young professionals on a personal level and make their hopes and dreams feel much more attainable in this art form,” he said. Tickets for the show are now on sale at the Dance Bahamas School in the Base Road Business Centre on Nassau Street. For more information contact 3287588 or 698-3993.
Courtney Celeste Spears, an Ailey II dancer of Bahamian descent
Alvin Ailey (1931 – 1989), considered a pioneer of African-American concert dance.
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Friday, September 9, 2016
entertainment
This year’s ‘Summer Madness’ to be ‘best yet’ “This is one not to miss because it will never be forgotten... Throughout the history of the Bahamas, the culture of our people has sustained us, and it is my intention to expose all and sundry to the values, norms and beliefs of our society.”
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
F
or more 30 years, the James Catalyn and Friends theatrical group has made audiences laugh with their immensely popular Summer Madness stage shows. And this year will be no different, as the wacky bunch are at it again with their 2016 revue, set to be performed at the Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts, September 15 - 17. This, their 34th show, promises to be just as hysterically hilarious and thought-provoking as past shows. Taking a satirical look at the typical, topical and timely topics as they relate to Bahamian life, the group said this year’s production will deliver not only laughs but also social commentary on some subjects that are often overlooked. Jevon Butler, the group’s president, said it is to lead when you have a winning team. From the production manager Valerie Pinder-Lynes, to the directors and cast members, the energy and enthusiasm is thrilling and exhilarating at the rehearsals, he said. Everyone, he added, has bought into the vision of Mr Catalyn, the renowned Bahamian writer, poet and satirist, and committed themselves to staging the best Summer Madness show ever. “This is one not to miss because it will never be forgotten. As president, I am proud to lead the way for the continuance of Bahamian culture. Throughout the history of the Bahamas, the culture of our people has sustained us, and it is my intention to expose all and sundry to the values, norms and beliefs of our society. Mr Catalyn started this race 37 years ago and I am fortunate to run this leg of the relay,” said Mr Butler. He said Mr Catalyn continues to shape performing arts in the Bahamas, encouraging a new generation of Bahamians to follow in his footsteps. He has taken many young persons interested in directing under his wing, and this
Members of the James Catalyn and Friends theatrical group year’s revue will see the introduction of Juliet Holmes and Leslie Ellis Tynes as director and assistant director, respectively. As the group seeks to maintain the legacy of its mentor, over the years
other aspiring writers have been encouraged and their works performed as a part of the Summer Madness revues. This year’s show will feature work written by Mr Butler, Dwain Wallace and Juliet Holmes. The cast is a multi-
generational one, ranging from veteran members with more than 20 years of experience under their belt to those just starting out. Cast members include Antoinette Knowles, Shornelle Nesbitt, Kimberly Duncombe, Neil Cleare, Chigozie Ijeoma, Sony Jean-Jacques, Dwain Wallace, Dion Farquharson, Rose Mary Hepburn, LeChante Wright, Sophie Smith, Hope Ratliffe, Angelique Hall and Natasha Elliott. Tickets are priced at $25 and available at the box office at the Dundas; or call 393-3728 or 394-7179, from 10am 4pm daily. Children and babies are not allowed admission. Reserved tickets not collected by 3pm on the day of performance will be sold. Summer Madness 2016 will also be staged in Marsh Harbour, Abaco, at St John the Baptist Anglican Church Hall on Saturday, September 24, at 7.30pm, and at the Regency Theatre in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on Saturday, October 15, at 8pm.
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Friday, September 9, 2016
pageants
Miss Universe Bahamas contestants show off their national costumes
Miss Golden Gates Whender LaFrance depicts the treasures of the Bahamas’ crystal clear waters
Miss Happy Hair Boutique Crystal Stubbs represents the national bird, the pink flamingo.
Miss Island Game Cherell Williamson displays the national coat of arms.
Miss Brickell Management Erika Adderley represents the Glass Window Bridge and blue waters of Eleuthera.
Miss Grand Isle Resort Rokara Hepburn depicts the pink flamingo
Miss Seventeen Shop Chivvaun Smith represents the national flower of rhe Bahamas, the Yellow Elder.
Miss Windermere Ashley Hanna depicts the splendour of the Bahamas’ marine life and the country’s beauty.
Miss Starfish Bay Selvinique Wright pays tribute to Junkanoo and Bay Street as the mythical Chickcharney.
Miss Grand Bahama Danielle Pratt represents the Bahamian flag and the natural resources of the country
Miss Zafiro Events Alexandria n Pinder pays tribune to the evolutio the and stry of the straw indu strength of the Bahamian woman.
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he 10 contestants vying for the crown of Miss Universe Bahamas 2016 got one step closer to their goal as they competed in an elaborate national costume competition last Saturday. Held at the Azul Pool at Albany, the cocktail reception was sponsored by Verve Cliqout Rich and open to the public. The judges were award-winning designer Chantal Bethel, fashion and costume designer Patrice Lockhart, and celebrity wardrobe Page Haggerty, who has styled stars like Serena Williams, Beyonce and Dywane Wade, among others. The contestants will find out their fate during the pageant finale on September 17 at Aviva Beach, Albany. The event is open to the public and tickets are available at Platinum Bride Couture on Parliament Street. To keep up with all pageant events, follow “MUB242” on Facebook and Instagram, or visit missuniverse-bahamas.com for additional info.
16 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 9, 2016
fashion The Weekend Fashion Report 73rd Venice Film Festival
HIT
FAIL
HIT
SPLIT
HIT
Emma Stone “La La Land”
Alicia Vikander “The Light Between Oceans”
Amy Adams “Nocturnal Animals”
Naomi Watts “The Book of Henry”
Gemma Arterton “Watership Down”
Karin says: “I love the bright colours, particularly with her red hair. This is like the perfect daytime dress to swan around Venice in. And it looks comfy on top of it. And you can’t see it here, but her heels were killer.” Cara says: “I want this dress. Can you send it to me, pretty please? I love the colours and the front zip. It’s just a great dress and she looks amazing, especially with her pulled back hair.”
Karin says: “Looks like oldfashioned, ‘Little House on the Prairie’ inspired dresses are now a popular style. And you know what, I like it. Not everyone can pull it off, but Naomi looks fresh and breezy...except for – you know it’s coming – those shoes! Could she have found any clunkier platforms? Cara says: “Again with these shoes. I have just never been a fan of the clunky shoes with the dainty dress look or the don’t match look. But OK, that’s just me probably. I like the dress, I don’t love it.”
Karin says: “Well, if anyone could pull off forgetting their pants at home, it’s Gemma. She sure has the legs to carry off this look. The cream colour of the ‘dress’ and the high collar are also really nice. I know it’s barely there, but I do really like this ensemble.” Cara says: “I like it; it’s very cute, sexy and fun. There isn’t anything else really to say about it. It’s simple, but that’s fin. I like her hair and the shoes, and I like that she is wearing a watch – we don’t see many watches on the red carpet.”
Karin says: “I actually really like this look. It’s something a little different – a cute oldfashioned floral number with a flounce. The colour scheme works great with her hair and complexion. It’s a refreshing summer look (although it’s almost fall).” Cara says: “Emma looks so cute in this very girly get-up. This dress is so old-fashioned and darling, and I am totally here for it. The shoes are a lil’ suspect, but other than that it’s a great choice.”
Karin says: “This simply looks like a cover-up you wear to the beach. I know a photocall is a casual event, but still. Her hair and lack of makeup (not to mention those ugly shoes) also point to the fact that she took a wrong turn and missed the beach.” Cara says: “I hate those granny shoes. That was my very first thought. Other than that the dress is OK. It looks comfy I’m sure it’s perfect for lounging at home, but not for an official event.”
AP PHOTOS
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
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Friday, September 9, 2016
podcasts
Beyond the silver screen was no longer the young ingenue but had not yet reached her fearsome older self, the time when she was struggling to define who she was in what was still a relatively fledgling industry. It’s a very informative show, but it does take a bit of concentration to listen to. It’s presented by a single host, Karina Longworth, with a sometimes intrusive amount of background music that occasionally distracts from your listening. But in terms of sheer knowledge, you’ll be hard pushed to find another show you’ll come away from having learned so much. The show covers a vast range of categories, so delve through their archives and learn more about the artists you love. Website: youmustrememberthispodcast.com
By STEPHEN HUNT shunt@tribunemedia.net
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his week, the podcast review delves into the world of movies – and what goes on behind the scenes of Hollywood and beyond the silver screen.
I Was There Too Never mind the superstars of film, what about the other guys? This show is devoted to the extras in movies – and it’s a hoot. How about the other folks who were on the bus in “Speed”? What goes on for the people who were also in the movie. Each week, the host, Matt Gourley, chats to various people who tell stories from behind the scenes, the selection process and more. The latest show features Rick Overton, starting off with his appearance in “Beverly Hills Cop”. Check out his picture here and say “Ohhhh that guy!” That’s what the show is all about, the “that guy!” moments. Overton has had a steady career in different movies, and the show chats about his work doing improvised scenes on “Beverly Hills Cop”, the process of shooting alongside Val Kilmer in “Willow”, the jokes going on during filming with the likes of Kevin Pollak, what it was like to be on “Lost”, and lots more besides. He even throws in an awesome Sean Connery impersonation, complete with exact facial movements that you can only judge by how much they make Matt Gourley laugh. It’s a fun show, great to listen to on the road or when you need to chill out. Website: http://www.earwolf.com/ show/i-was-there-too/
Actor Rick Overton recounts his experiences on the sets of “Beverly Hills Cop”, “Lost” and more on “I Was There Too”.
The /Filmcast
You Must Remember This Delving into the history behind the stories of Hollywood, You Must Remember This is as thorough a history show as there is out there. The latest show looks at the moviemaking history of Joan Crawford – specifically her “middle years” when she
Learn more about Joan Crawford and other the icons of the silver screen in “You Must Remember This”.
A much more straightforward show is The /Filmcast, but it’s a whole lot of fun. There’s reviews in here, sure, but there’s just a great deal of love for the world of movies on show too. The latest show has a review of “Don’t Breathe” in there, but they also banter about how much popcorn gets thrown away each day at movie theatres and how little it’s really worth, chats about what the hosts have been watching and lots more besides. This is the kind of show you want to dive into every week for a good bit of fun, and with plenty more for the movie lover beyond the latest movies themselves. Website: www.slashfilm.com
18 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 9, 2016
music
Rashad Leamount bares it all with ‘Aphrodite’ By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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F you missed the first listening event for the new single “Aphrodite” by Rashad Leamount, fear not, because in a few weeks the track will become available on various platforms for those who are eager to hear what the Bahamian musician has to offer. Rashad has been in the process of reintroducing himself to public after revamping his image. For about 11 years, the 29-yearold performed under the stage name “Dash”. He entered and placed favourably in a number of writing competitions, had music featured on both local and international radio stations, performed at international festivals, and was profiled by online music blogs. By the age of 19, Rashad had come to public’s attention with songs like “Oh Shawty” and “The Greatest Show”, but in recent years he decided to withdraw from the music scene to truly focus on his art. Now, he is back with a new sound and a new single called “Aphrodite”. The song will be available for purchase on September 25 on Apple Music and Tidal. But until then, fans can preview the track on SoundCloud or via the artist’s Facebook fan page. “This song started out as just kind of a mental note. The word ‘Aphrodite’ kept swirling around in my head, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it. One night I got a new track from my producer and the lyrics instantly came: ‘No matter how much that I try, I just couldn’t resist. Aphrodite, you’ve got me suffering from symptoms of amnesia’....the rest just flowed,” he said. In an earlier interview with Tribune Weekend, Rashad described the song as an interesting, trap-influenced ballad that is really different from what is currently being played on the airwaves.
“There is so much music out there that’s about hiding how you really feel, especially from male singers... I wanted this song to be brave enough to be vulnerable and really put itself out there and say what’s so often on people’s minds...” “I love that ‘Aphrodite’ is honest. I wrote this from a moment of transparency and really clear emotion. There is so much music out there that’s about hiding how you really feel, especially from male singers. I wanted this song to be brave enough to be vulnerable and really put itself out there and say what’s so often on people’s minds but we never actually say out loud,” he said. “I think the mood really depends on where you’re at in your personal life. If the person you relate this song to is still in your life, then I think you’ll feel joy and maybe even contentment. If you’ve lost that love then this song may be bittersweet and may invoke a sense of loss and longing.” Rashad’s career has had many twists and turns, so he said he is proud
The cover of Rashad Leamount’s latest single, “Aphrodite” of what his music, which has taken on an alternative R&B, neo-soul and hip hop sound, has evolved into. Concerning plans for a music video for “Aphrodite”, Rashad said anything is possible. “Right now I am focusing on performing and cultivating that space. There isn’t a consistent neo-soul/hip hop platform here and I’d like to fill that void. So far I’ve had a great start with the help of the sponsors Courvoisier Gold and Ron Barcelona who who really supported my first show. I wanted an intimate setting with a hand-picked crowd, and their sponsorship made that possible. I’m hoping to build upon that and really provide the kind of experience that music lovers have been looking forward to,” he said.
Rashad Leamount, formerly known as “Dash”
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Friday, September 9, 2016
music
Wendi Lewis’ “Business Tour” a smashing success By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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Wendi Lewis performs at the Pirate Republic Brewing Company
o give her new, “edgier” EP some momentum, singer Wendi Lewis recently presented her fans with an artist showcase to kick off her “Business Tour”. Held at the Pirate Republic Brewing Company in downtown Nassau, the event was a smashing success, Wendi said. The showcase derived its name from her newest release, the “Risky Business” EP, which Wendi said shows a grittier and more risk-taking version of herself as an artist. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Wendi joined the popular Visage Band five years ago, releasing singles such as “Happy Hour”, “One Song”, “Make It Loud” and “Party Starter” with the group. She has released two solo pop/ R&B projects so far – “Lunar”, released in 2013, and now the new “Risky Business” EP. “The Business Tour” event on August 25 was Wendi’s second artist showcase, and she said it felt good to be on stage again, showing her growth and creativity as a solo artist. She said it also feels incredible to be a woman in the industry who is breaking new ground and being fearless while doing so. “After releasing ‘Risky Business’ I knew that I needed to put some momentum behind the EP. The best way to do that is to get out and perform the material for a live audience. The stage is where I come alive and there is nothing better than watching your music grow legs and become this living thing that so many people are able to enjoy. The motivation is of course
visibility. The inspiration is the music itself,” said Wendi. She told Tribune Weekend the purpose of “The Business Tour” is to reintroduce herself to the public. As an artist, Wendi said it is important that she push the boundaries of her art and reinvent herself often. For many, she said, this is a chance to see her perform up close and personal and in a different manner than when she takes the stage with the Visage Band. “‘The Business Tour’ highlights the music of Wendi only. There are no opening acts or other musical acts so far. One of the songs performed is a collaboration of myself and Chase Fernander, so that is an added treat to the setlist. I will be adding more dates to ‘The Business Tour’ and will continue to push music from the ‘Risky Business’ EP, along with my latest Caribbean single #EENMISSINIT,” the singer said. Wendi has also recently completed production on a new campaign to raise awareness for the possible depletion of the queen conch. She assisted the Bahamas National Trust with their initiative and co-wrote a song for a public service announced called “Conchservation (Conch Gone)”. This will also be made into a musical that will be released later this month. Additionally, Wendi has a new web series called “A Couple Views”. It is a candid vlog on various topics which can be found on the YouTube channel “wendi242”. “When you find, please be sure to share it,” said Wendi. The singer is also encouraging Bahamians to request “#EENMISSINIT”, “Risky Business”, “Buffy”, “One Song”, “Make It Loud” and “Party Starter” on their favourite local radio and TV stations.
20 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 9, 2016
books
Spy novelist le Carre relates stories from his life review
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f stories to dine out on, David Cornwell has an abundance. Or should we say John le Carre has? Cornwell’s pen name overshadows the title on the cover of this, his first memoir, “The Pigeon Tunnel.” The name “John le Carre” attracts the audience, but it’s David Cornwell confiding in us here, as if over dinner, then chatting long into the evening over snifters of brandy, or, as he unspools memories of Russia, glasses of vodka. He is nearing his 85th birthday, so he reflects on his brief stint as a British spy during the Cold War and long career as a revered espionage novelist who does his own fieldwork. Fans of le Carre’s fiction will use this as a code book where they will match up characters from “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,”
‘’The Little Drummer Girl” and other titles to the real people who inspired them. To research the Palestine-Israel conflict for “Drummer Girl,” for example, Cornwell works his way into the world of Palestinian liberation fighters and eventually wins an audience with Yasser Arafat. He interviews a Russian mafia boss to gather material for “Our Kind of Traitor.” For “The Mission Song,” he seeks out warlords in east Congo. Film offers came early, so there are actors and directors to befriend. When hard-drinking Richard Burton, cast as the hard-drinking lead in “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold,” the 1965 film adaptation of le Carre’s early bestseller, needs a pal to keep him steady, it is Cornwell whom director Martin Ritt summons to the set. Sober-minded Alec Guinness, who plays George Smiley in two BBC miniseries versions of le Carre novels, encounters an actor showing up drunk and “the poor man might as well have gone to sleep on sentry duty,” Corn-
well recalls. But Guinness’ anger gives way “to an almost desperate kindliness.” When Sydney Pollack, Francis Ford Coppola and Stanley Kubrick call, Cornwell jets off to discuss impossible projects. “One day, I trust, it will be recognized that the best films of my work were the ones that were never made,” he laments. The title “The Pigeon Tunnel” comes from a much earlier memory. His conman father (the inspiration for le Carre’s autobiographical novel, “A Perfect Spy”) has taken him on a gambling spree in Monte Carlo, Monaco. At a sporting club, the teenager David sees “well-lunched sporting gentlemen” shooting pigeons. He learns the surviving birds fly back to their home on the casino roof where they are doomed to be trapped in the tunnels that lead them again into shotgun fire. It’s a troubling image. Does it haunt him into his 80s because he’s trapped by his own inherited nature? His father, Ronnie, looms, at last fully formed, in “Son of the Author’s
Olympic champion Simone Biles to release autobiography FOUR-TIME Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles is ready to tell the full story behind her rise from prodigy to champion. Biles, who won five medals overall at the 2016 Olympics, will release her autobiography “Courage to Soar” on November 15. The book will reveal
ADULT readers in the US still strongly favuor paper over e-books, according to a new study from the Pew Research Centre. Around 65 per cent of those surveyed had read a paperback or hardcover over the past year, compared to
most decorated American female gymnasts of all time, with 14 world championship medals to go along with her haul in Rio. She is taking a break from competition before deciding whether to make a push toward the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The book includes a forward from 1984 Olympic champion Mary Lou Retton. MICHIGAN Associated Press
“how challenges in her childhood have shaped her into the young woman and role model she is today. She shares the ups and downs of her life, insights into her positive mental approach, and her inspiring journey to the pinnacle of her sport.” The 19-year-old Biles is one of the
Paper still prevails over e-books, according to new study 28 per cent who had read an e-book, Pew reported last week. Around 40 per cent only read print books, while just six per cent favour e-books exclusively. Fourteen per cent said they had listened to an audio book, up two percentage points from
Father,” a chapter saved for late in the book. Roguish Ronnie cheats, lies, runs cons, sends others to prison for his crimes, beds women, goes to prison himself and still manages to send his sons to the best schools. Later in life, Ronnie takes advantage of his son’s fame whenever he can. In these pages, Cornwell becomes one of his most fascinating characters — the son who learns to dissemble at his father’s knee, joins the British intelligence service and rounds out his life creating false worlds as a novelist. CARLA K JOHNSON Associated Press
2015, but the same as in 2014. E-book sales surged after Amazon. com introduced its Kindle reader in 2007. But they began levelling off a few years ago and have even declined for some major publishers. Those who do read e-books prefer a tablet computer (15 per cent) or cellphone (13 per cent) rather than a dedicated device such as the Kindle (eight per cent). Overall, 73 per cent of Americans
18 and older read a book over the past year, up one percentage point from 2015 but below the 79 per cent recorded for 2011. Women were more likely to have read a book (77 per cent) than men (68 per cent). The Pew report is based on a nationwide telephone survey of 1,520 American adults, conducted March 7 to April 4. NEW YORK Associated Press
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Friday, September 9, 2016
film
review
Eastwood’s ‘Sully’ stubbornly refuses to soar sully running time: 96 mins
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n “Sully,” Clint Eastwood’s haunted and sterile docudrama of Capt. Chesley Sullenberger’s 2009 landing of flight 1549 on the Hudson, Eastwood has drained away all the superficial, rah-rah heroism of Sullenberger’s great feat, but he has also sucked the life out of it. “Sully” is every bit an Eastwood picture. Instead of the rush of euphoria that the “Miracle on the Hudson” swept through a New York accustomed to only tragedy from the air, we get a weary parable that, as Eastwood has often done, pulls the curtain away from a celebrated public figure and reveals the inner trauma and sense of responsibility that lies inside a regular man thrust into an unwanted spotlight. Sullenberger, played with typical dignity and sensitivity by Tom Hanks, is not here celebrated with a parade of a movie. He is beset by demons and anxieties, and the almost comically harsh scrutiny of an aviation safety panel, which, relying on automated flight simulations, believes Sullenberger could have safely returned to LaGuardia or made it over the New Jersey shoreline to Teterboro. Their snide, judgmental presence is there throughout “Sully,” as they try to second guess his decision-making. It’s an exaggeration. The film’s climactic grilling of Sullenberger at a public hearing was referred to in news reports as “gentle, respectful and at times downright congenial.” But Eastwood and screenwriter
Tom Hanks as real-life hero Chesley Sullenberger
Tom Hanks, left, and Aaron Eckhart in a scene “Sully”. Todd Komarnicki working off of Sullenberger’s book “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters,” had to find drama somewhere. The entire flight lasted less than six minutes. It was just 208 seconds from bird strike to the frigid Hudson. How do you make a film out of mere moments, handled with preternatural calm? Eastwood lingers in its aftermath, as Sully remains holed in a Manhattan he has little love for. The narrative is fractured, flashing backward and forward, into the pilot’s past and occasionally into his nightmares. Hanks, white
haired and subdued, finds Sullenberger’s essence not in the miraculous but in the mundane: A man just doing his job, not so unlike his “Captain Phillips.” And though the film bears his name, “Sully” is really a two-hander. With Sullenberger throughout is his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (a top-notch Aaron Eckhart), his partner in flight and on the ground. They huddle together in midnight runs and in testimony, leaning on each other through the surreal media storm. Eastwood moves slowly to the landing but gives it its full due. Filmed on
IMAX, his big, clear images nevertheless remain somber — as does Eastwood’s own quiet score — in the big, awaited moment. Nowhere is much of a sense of New York or the cathartic relief that lifted the city. Instead, “Sully” remains, stubbornly, a refraction of Sullenberger’s interior, as filtered through Eastwood’s elegiac lens. “I eyeballed it,” is how the pilot explains his intuitive response, built up over 42 years of flying. It’s not hard to feel Eastwood’s own identification with the man. He, too, is an old hand who works quickly: workmanlike and instinctually, “eyeballing” it. You can imagine Eastwood, too, up there on the stand responding to what computers say he should have done differently. “Life’s easier in the air,” Skiles and Sullenberger agree. Eastwood, of course, does too. Only being aloft for him is to be in the director’s chair, far from other concerns. His focus in “Sully” is both its greatest attribute (this is, after all, a serious and thoughtful film that sees a universally-known event through a fresh perspective) and the reason for its disappointing emptiness. In testimony, Sullenberger criticizes the simulators for “taking all the humanity of the cockpit.” Eastwood has put it back in. But the story of Flight 1549 was bigger than that. JAKE COYLE AP Film Writer
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Friday, September 9, 2016
literary lives katherine govier
Life and death in the American bird bible Sir Christopher Ondaatje looks at how a Canadian novelist unlocked the secrets behind John James Audubon’s monumental bird paintings
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he journals of the great American ornithologist, naturalist and artist John James Audubon, edited and published by his granddaughter in 1897, almost half a century after he died, are detailed to the point of exhaustion. They document his personal life, work as a naturalist and taxidermist, as well as his travels into Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Florida in search of ornithological specimens for his future magnum opus “Birds of America”, which is still considered one of the greatest examples of book art. However, curiously, the journals of his 1833 expedition to explore the
Katherine Govier rugged nesting grounds of seabirds on the northern shores of the Gulf of St Lawrence and the Labrador coast, seem unaccountably devoid of detail. Katherine Govier, the Canadian novelist, seized on this omission and wrote her own novel, “Creation”, about the pitiless, fog-bound journey taken midway through the creation of “Birds of America”. The drama of this excursion on the schooner Ripley and his chance meeting with Captain Henry Wolsey Bayfield on the Royal Navy ship, Gulnare, who was set the equally daunting task of charting the treacherous coastline, reveal much more of Audubon’s driven, demanding char-
acter than would otherwise have been available to us. Govier’s novel, published in 2002, immerses the reader in a psychological drama that exposes the artist’s fears, insecurities and will to survive. Despite the liberties taken by the author, this extraordinarily sensitive and creative work may well be the closest we will ever get to understanding the character of this artistic genius. John James Audubon was born on April 26, 1785, in the French colony of Saint-Dominique (now Haiti), the illegitimate child of a French sea captain and Jeanne Rabine, a 27-year-old chambermaid.
He was initially called Jean Rabin, but sadly his mother died of a tropical disease a few months after he was born. Because of the slave unrest in the Caribbean in 1789 Audubon’s father sold part of his plantation in SaintDominique and purchased a 284-acre farm 20 miles from Philadelphia. Audubon was sent to France, where he and his half-sister were raised by his father’s indulgent wife. The children were formally adopted in 1794 so as to legalise their status in France, and the young Audubon was renamed Jean-Jacques Fougère Audubon. He grew up to have an immediate affinity for birds and loved roaming in
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Friday, September 9, 2016
the woods, collecting curiosities and making drawings. He also learned to play the flute and violin, to ride, fence and dance. He was a gregarious and handsome young man, but when he failed an officer’s qualification test in 1803, his father obtained a false passport and he emigrated to the United States, thus avoiding conscription in the Napoleonic War. He was 18 and changed his name to the more anglicised John James Audubon. Audubon arrived in New York City but soon moved to the family estate, Mill Grove, where he enjoyed the freedom to concentrate on his passion for ornithology. He lived the life of a privileged landowner and five years later met and married Lucy Bakewell the daughter of a nearby estate owner who shared his interest in wildlife and nature. It was during these early years that Audubon developed his determination to illustrate his bird studies in a more realistic manner than had ever been attempted. He began drawing and painting birds in earnest and recording their behaviour. His private rooms were filled with birds’ eggs, stuffed animals, fish, snakes and other creatures. He also taught himself to become proficient at specimen preparation and taxidermy. A lead mine on his father’s property proved to be of no commercial value and, with his father’s permission, he sold part of Mill Grove and moved to Kentucky. He now had two sons but he proved to be an indifferent businessman who might well have sacrificed his family’s financial security to fulfil his artistic passion. Short of funds, he moved further west to Henderson, Kentucky, taking over an abandoned log cabin and was soon forced into bankruptcy and thrown into jail for debts. Impoverishment and shame haunted Audubon. But like the secret of his illegitimacy it spawned his unusual ambition. On his release from jail he hunted and fished to feed his family and spent time with the Osage Indians learning their methods. He was much more at ease in the wilderness than in the world of commerce and trade and, after a short stay in Cincinnati working as a naturalist, he left his family and set out on the Mississippi with an assistant, Joseph Mason, and with guns and painting equipment to fulfil his ambition to collect and paint all the birds of North America for publication. It was a wild and gargantuan task and his plan
Continued on page 24
The Ruffled Grouse by John James Audubon
John James Audubon (1785 - 1851)
“The wilderness Audubon captured so realistically was, in part, based on his complete identification with his subject. His artistic powers verge on the religious, and it is a haunting reminder that fulfilment was his only path to justification. It was only by destroying what he loved most, both in life and art, that he was able to achieve his final goal.”
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The Tricoloured Louisiana Heron by John James Audubon Continued from page 23 was to supercede any other existing publishing work. Their travels took them to Alabama, Florida and Louisiana. With single minded determination, Audubon set out to paint one page a day using a newly discovered and untried technique. He hired hunters to gather specimens for him and his ambitious project took him away from home for months at a time. His wife, Lucy, became the sole provider for the family, teaching children in Louisiana, reduced to staying with neighbours. In 1824 Audubon took his paintings and his idea to a publisher in Philadelphia, but his “Birds of America” was rejected. Disappointed, he sailed for
England, taking with him his growing collection of bird paintings, a portfolio now of over 300 drawings. He was 46 and arrived in Liverpool in the autumn of 1826 with letters of introduction to prominent English naturalists. Incredibly, despite his American subject, he was well received and raised enough money to begin publishing parts of “Birds of America”. This ambitious work would eventually consist of 435 hand-coloured, life-sized prints of 497 bird species, made from engraved copper plates of various sizes depending on the size of the image. They were printed on sheets measuring 39 x 26 inches and were organised for artistic effect and contrasting interest. The cost of printing the entire works was $115,640 (or over $2 million in
today’s terms). All the money raised was from advance subscriptions (some never received), painting commissions, and sales of animal skins and bird drawings. When completed it was a remarkable accomplishment and took over 14 years of field observation, painting, and a great deal of time spent raising subscription money. Over 50 colourists were hired to apply each colour in an assembly line, and the original edition was engraved in aquatint by Robert Havell Jr. The New York Historical Society now owns all 435 of the preparatory water colours for “Birds of America” which were sold to them by Lucy Audubon after her husband died in 1851, and all but 80 of the original cop-
per plates were melted down and sold for scrap to the Phelps Dodge Corporation by Audubon’s widow when she was desperate for money. However, before Audubon’s final accomplishment and publication of “Birds of America”, he made an 1833 expedition to the treacherous Labrador coast and it is of this expedition that Katherine Govier grapples with Audubon’s temperamental inconsistencies and infidelities. Govier brings the 48-year-old Audubon to life: a man fearful of failing to complete his life’s work, fearful of shame and the neglect of his family, and fearful of being exposed as a fraud who had raised money for a project that might never see completion. Govier’s finite research and sensual descriptions are in themselves instruments of seduction and we come closer to understanding the contradictory figure of Audubon the man, motivated by fame as the only alternative to failure. The wilderness Audubon captured so realistically was, in part, based on his complete identification with his subject and Govier’s own created theories give the book an uplifting energy. Audubon’s artistic powers verge on the religious, and it is a haunting reminder that fulfilment was his only path to justification. It was only by destroying what he loved most, both in life and art, that he was able to achieve his final goal. Even Audubon’s brutal slaughter of birds seemed to fit into the landscape of Govier’s “Creation”. The bodies of the birds and the story’s characters have been wired and twisted into positions in dramatic settings. It is her masterpiece as much as his. Audubon worked primarily in watercolour, adding chalk or pastel to soften his images just as Govier does to tell the story of a man torn between the lies he has lived and the truth he now needs. In an atmospheric and enthralling novel, Katherine Govier has recreated a summer in which the world’s greatest living bird artist finally understood the paradox embedded in his art: that the act of creation was also an act of destruction. NEXT WEEK: Oscar Wilde and one of the most brilliant philosophical novels ever written. • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is an adventurer and writer resident in the Bahamas. A Sri Lankan-born CanadianEnglishman, he is the author of several books, including “The Last Colonial”.
The Tribune | Weekend | 25
Friday, September 9, 2016
forgotten facts The Exuma Cays in 1929 – a pretty haven for yachts and swimmers By PAUL C ARANHA cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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here are some 700 pages in the 1929 Aranha Report on The Exuma Cays, including my father’s Preface, which reads (in part): “The majority (of the Cays) have no names, but any small rock, on which migratory seabirds nest, is a Bird Cay a small cay adjacent to a larger one is a Little Cay - which name is corrupted to Lil’ or Lilly - the larger one is Big Cay - and any cay, on which there is a beach or patch of sand, is a White Bay Cay. Fish Hawks select rocks, in which they construct their nests, and these rocks, once selected, are occupied by succeeding generations of birds. The occupation of some of these rocks ante-date the memory of the oldest inhabitants and some are noted on charts of AD 1836 and each is called “HAWKSNEST”. The names of many cays change with each squatter or owner and, unless diligent research or enquiry is made, as regards ownership, it is extremely difficult to identify, for instance, “Capt. Mingo Rolle – God rest the dead Cay” with Hog Cay, the eastern portion of which was granted to Mary Munn, in the year of grace 1789. By the same token, Mullin’s Cay, partly granted to Eliz Mullins, around 1789, has been, successively, Tommy Young Cay - Henderson Ferguson’s Cay - F’eddy Bowe Cay - and now, 1929, Paul Clarke’s Cay. Not being endowed with the spirit of prophecy, I know not what its future names may be. The Admiralty Charts of Exuma are extremely misleading ... I have made sketches, showing the approximate position of many rocks and cays, not shewn [sic] in the charts, and of several sections where, instead of cays, each
Portion of the 1906 plan for Exuma, showing the Hermitage Estate and Hog Cay. (Illustration from the collection of the late “Babbie” Holt) 5 or 6 miles long, there are dozens of small cays and rocks. The accuracy of these sketches is not guaranteed, but they are certainly more accurate than the chart. With the exception of the cays on the south side of Great Exuma - many of them would make ideal health and tourist resorts and could be developed in the same manner as Salt Cay, near New Providence, or Cat Cay, near Bimini. One can also indulge in fishing, both on the banks and in the ocean, and there is a limited amount of shooting, on many cays. For yachts drawing under 5 feet of water, a good harbour can be found within 2 or 3 miles of any cay. This applies even during storms and gales, but not during a hurricane, such as those of 1926. Hog Cay, at the east end of Exuma, is less than 600 acres, in area, but is noted for its fine stock farm, for many years. The larger cays compare favour-
ably with Hog Cay, in size and quality of land, and are nearer to the Nassau market. They could and, in the past, did produce cattle and stock but, as their former, or original, owners died, their descendants quitted the monotonous life on the cays and settled in Nassau, or elsewhere - more often to semi-starvation instead of the former prosperity they enjoyed. In these days of cheap books and radios and musical instruments, life could be less drab and more endurable. A sample of what can be done, in making a home more comfortable, can be seen in The Hermitage Estate, at the east end of Little Exuma, where living compares favourably with that in Nassau. But, to develop such farms will require knowledge of stock-raising and an outlay of at least £1,000, in capital, with very little profit for 2 years, but it can be done.
Several of the cays - Stanyard Cay, Guano Cay, Farmer’s Cay and Barratarria - but the people barely exist. There are a few phonographs, but reading is limited to The Bible, the Hymnal, the National Bellas Hess catalogue and Standard 2, or 3, School Readers. Corn (hominy), potatoes and fish are, in many cases, the only food. Illness is almost always attributed to Obeah and death is often the result of ignorant carelessness, and lack of attention to sickness, in its incipient stage, but, as a whole, these people are better off than the inhabitants of the Berry Islands, who live under almost similar conditions. The Cays are well worth visiting pretty scenery, good sea-bathing and plenty of fresh air - and for those who enjoy yachting, cruising through the group, for a few weeks, should be an enjoyable trip.” • islandairman@gmail.com
BRAVE, GUARD (across or down)
26 | The Tribune | Weekend
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The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, September 9, 2016
animals
Here for a reason: God’s creatures
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ver the 18 months or more that I have been writing my articles for the Tribune Weekend I would say that I more than half covered subjects that I am deeply passionate about. It is often very difficult to write about something that matters so much that you have to take a couple of steps back, count to 10, and breathe deeply before being able to continue writing. Of course the subject matter is always animals, hence the title of the page I write: Animal Matters. Sitting in church last Sunday, at the Anglican service at St Christopher’s Church, I read with renewed interest when I noticed that in the first part of the Intercessions chosen by Archdeacon Cartwright that day we would prayed for, amongst other things, “ All God’s Creatures”. Three simple little words that popped out of the Red Book of Common Prayer and yelled “Hello!” to me. Why do we have such trouble getting people to care for, be kind to, consider and nurture animals if the churches themselves have their congregations pray for “All God’s Creatures”? Quite simply put: Who is not listening to what? I am presuming that in spite of the move away from formalised religion, most people in the Bahamas are exposed to religion – albeit, I know, not necessarily the Anglican faith, but religion nonetheless. It is also my understanding that Christianity preaches love, forgiveness and kindness. So why are we not extending those doctrines to our every day Bahamian life? What are some of us not getting? On the same Sunday morning, after I came back from worship, I watched a TV programme about how in Indo-
Mellow Montagu By The Bahamas Humane Society
PET OF THE WEEK
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his handsome fellow was found in the Montagu area by animal welfare duo The Pink Potcake, hence his rather site specific name. He was brought to the Bahamas Humane Society in hopes that his owners would reappear, but sadly they have not, and he is now available for adoption. We believe Montagu is about five years old. He’s very mellow and gets along well with other dogs as well as humans of all ages. If you’re looking for a calmer, older dog, who loves to go for walks, Montagu may be just the right fit for you. Please come in to the BHS to meet him or call 323-5138 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. Montagu hopes to be strolling with you soon!
• The BHS Summer Fun Photography Contest is now accepting submissions. This year’s entries
Archdeacon Keith Cartwright blesses a potcake with holy water
PATRICIA VAZQUEZ
Animal matters Kim Aranha
should be submitted via e-mail to bhsphotocontest@gmail.com and payment for entries can be made online at www.bahamashumanesociety.com or in person at the BHS, Graham Real Estate or Windermere Day Spa (both locations). Check your summer photos, read more about the contest on Facebook or the website, enter, then come out to the end-of-summer fundraiser on Friday, September 30, at John Watling’s Distillery to see if you’ve won!
Archdeacon Keith Cartwright with terrapin “Big Momma”
nesia they have a special sanctuary where they care for the baby green sea turtles for their first year of life until they are large enough to have a better chance of survival. The day they are released is a day of celebration and praise, as the healthy, strong young sea creatures are watched as they are released one by one; it’s a cause for celebration and joy. On Facebook on the same Sunday a video clip was posted by a man who was rejoicing over the amazing experience he had swimming surrounded by whale sharks. He got so much pleasure from the experience that he felt compelled to share it with the world. Perhaps we need to remind people how these creatures came to be. God created the sharks, the snakes, the potcakes, the cats, the raccoons and every other living, breathing creature on the face of the earth. If the Lord felt they were worthy of his creation, surely we should respect and care for them. Surely neglecting an animal goes against the teachings of our faith? After all, the Bible tells us very clearly of how God instructed Noah to build a boat big enough in order to save all the creatures from the floods – another indication of their importance. Every October, St Christopher’s Church has a St Francis of Assisi church service where animals are invited into the church with their caregivers. It is not a long service, but the animals behave very well, and their owners are proud and happy to see them blessed, because they were put on earth with a purpose. I think we should all ask our priests, deacons, preachers, ministers, men and women of God to remember St Francis of Assisi Day this year. October 4 is the actual day, so we usually celebrate it the following weekend. Let’s see more than one little church in the West hold a special blessing of the animals. Let’s get people to recognise the importance of animals in our lives on this earth. In closing, I will tell a sweet little story. God has just finished creating the world, he has named every creature, insect, fish, bird, and is finally done when all of a sudden the creature at his feet says: “Wait a minute, you forgot to name me.” God says: “No, I did not forget to name you, I have kept you for last. I will spell my name backwards and call you dog.”
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 9, 2016
gardening
Hot and sweet peppers Peppers come in many shapes and sizes. Jack Hardy shares some of his favourite varieties and explains what they are good for.
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love peppers. A fried or roasted Anaheim or Cubanelle accompanies many of my meals and I usually consume four or five bird peppers at each breakfast sitting. I find seared sliced steak and inchsquare green bell pepper pieces in a wok sauce to be a quick, simple and delicious dish. Conch chowder? Pass the sherry pepper, please. Peppers are warm weather plants and can be started now, even in the brutal heat of summer. I sow my seeds in trays and allow three to four inches between plants. The tray is positioned so it receives morning and evening sun but is shaded from the afternoon sun. Before sowing the seeds I spray the surface of the soil lightly with a fungicide to help prevent damping off. Once the pepper seeds are planted ¼ inch in potting mix, press each area with your knuckles to firm the seeds in. Pepper seeds usually take three weeks to germinate and appear above ground,
Red and green Cubanelle peppers longer than most vegetable seeds. Once the plants are close to flowering they can be transplanted to the garden or a four-gallon pot. Sweet peppers come in bell and elongated form. Bell peppers are blocky and thick fleshed and are convenient for adding to many Bahamian dishes. The traditional green pepper will turn red in maturity but sometimes allowing this to happen causes the plant to stop production, sometimes for a month or two, sometimes forever. It is best to pick green peppers while they are still green and have that distinctive fresh taste and crisp texture. If you want red bell peppers you should sow red bell peppers. The same goes for yellow and orange bell peppers. There are brown and purple bell peppers but I never buy or grow these; I’d rather eat a self-confident bell pepper, not one that has aspirations to be an eggplant. There are many sweet peppers that are not bell peppers. Favourites are Cubanelle, Corno di Toro (Bull’s Horn), Sweet Banana, Pimiento, Marconi, Biscayne, Carmen, and Aruba. Most of these are fryers – a process that increases their sweetness – but can be used in salads and cooked dishes at a pinch. There are several peppers similar to these that have a little bit of bite to
Fermented
red hot pep
per sauce
them, a mere trace of heat. These are usually Anaheim or Numex peppers that grow to eight inches and are good for stuffing and grilling as well as frying. The excitement of pepper lies in the amazingly varied number of hot peppers we can choose from. Here in the Bahamas we have a love affair with bird pepper, a small red pepper that has a sharp sting but little residual heat. A yard without a bird pepper ‘tree’ is not a welcoming place. Second favourite is probably a type of finger pepper like Tabasco. These usually have more heat than bird peppers and are four to five times larger, the perfect size to add to pickles. The most popular hot pepper in the US is the jalapeño. Over the past few decades jalapeños have become hotter and hotter but I notice a trend back to mild jalapeños. If the heat in a pepper is too great it can really only be used in cooking. Heat obliterates the distinctive taste of jalapeño, a flavour that is appreciated fully when the heat is mild. Our Guyanese friends love their wiri-wiri pepper, a heavy producer that looks like a half-inch cherry. The taste of wiri-wiri is remarkably similar to goat pepper but is somewhat milder. Wiri-wiri pepper plants should be grown in five-gallon pots at least to
allow them to reach four or five feet in height. Goat peppers are really hot and are the choice of Bahamians wanting local fire. Unfortunately, goat peppers cross easily with other peppers and the purestrain goat pepper is dying out. The group of very hot peppers collectively known as habaneros comes in red, yellow and orange hues. They grow quickly and are good producers but must be used judiciously when added raw to foods such as conch salad. For cooked food – jerk chicken is the classic example – habañeros really come into their own. Several pepper varieties are lovely to grow but somehow do not fit into established usage of peppers in Bahamian cuisine. Examples of these are serrano, poblano/ancho, Thai and Cayenne, each one very ornamental but awkward to use. As with bell peppers, some hot pepper plants stop growing when they have lots of fruits. The solution is to pick regularly, ensuring the stem is removed with the fruit. If you pick more peppers than you can use at any given time, freeze the leftovers. There are many condiments that can be made from hot peppers, among them pepper sauce, chutney and pepper paste. I have already mentioned sherry pepper, a condiment that comes to us from Jamaica and is designed to make rich foods richer. You do not have to use sherry; dry Madeira or Marsala work equally well. You must use an ornamental container for sherry pepper. I use a miniature round-bottom pitcher about five inches tall. Boil an ounce or so of sherry/Madeira/Marsala in a small pot, fill your pitcher halfway with bird peppers, then tip them into the boiling liquid. Stir for about a minute and strain, discarding the liquid. When cool, put the peppers back into the bottle and fill it with sherry/Madeira/Marsala. Keep the container in the refrigerator and give it a shake every time you notice it. The pepper sauce should be strong enough for use within a month. The boiling of the peppers removes surface contaminants but boiling also removes alcohol and that is why we discard the liquid. It is unthinkable to enjoy conch chowder without sherry pepper. You will find it also much improves the taste of rich gravies, something to remember at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• For questions and comments emailj.hardy@coralwave.com