The activity-packed Carnival period is slowly subsiding with fewer entertainment events being held. Having flocked to the beaches these past few weekends following the reign of the Merry Monarch, the party crowd is now eagerly anticipating the long Easter weekend, especially the Tobago Jazz Festival.
However, prior to that event, Production One Limited is staging its 2016 edition of Jazz Artistes on the Greens (JAOTG), on WASA Grounds, at Farm Road, St Joseph, next weekend on Saturday, March 12.
The cast of JAOTG includes: Cuban jazz trumpeter Alexis Baro, Rodney Harris' Vizion, Ice Water Pan Ensemble of Diego Martin, Massy Trinidad All Stars crackshot player Dance Gulston, Clifford Charles, and vocalists Jason "Fridge" Seecharan, Arita Edmund and Moricia Cagan. Showtime is 3.30 pm.
However, before that comes around, how about some clean, wholesome fun in Central Trinidad? Tomorrow, the Hindu Prachaar Kendra (HPK) will premiere its 2016 Phagwa Festival with the qualifying round of the 23rd annual Pichakaaree competition.
The equivalent to social and political commentary in calypso, using a mixture of Hindi, English and Bhojpuri words, Pichakaaree was started by Ravi-ji. Tomorrow's elimination contest will be held at the Kendra Headquarters, Gilibia Trace, Raghunanan Road, Enterprise, Chaguanas, from 3 pm.
HPK will stage its Holika Dahan on Good Friday (March 25) with the final of the Pichakaaree 2016 and Ranga Barase and Makhan Chor competition scheduled for Easter Sunday (March 27).
Dog and Fries
Before getting into what's to come, let's return to last Saturday night when a huge audience turned out to witness the semifinal of Tuco's National Humorous Calypso Monarch competition at SWWTU Hall in Port-of-Spain. Bro Mudada (Allan Fortune), from Kaiso House, placed ahead of his 19 rivals by some distance, singing his hilarious Dog and Fries.
Qualifying for the March 19 final to challenge defending monarch Brother Ebony (Fitzroy Joseph) at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, are Kaiso Knobby (Carl Barrington); Crazy (Edwin Ayoung); Kid Kalaloo (Julian Hunte); Mr Nature (Michael John); Sexy Suzie (Natasha Nurse); De Rude Kaiso (Shawn McIntyre); and Spicey (Tammico Moore).
For the final, contestants will be required to sing two calypsoes–the one performed at the semi-final and another–of a humorous nature, chosen by the contestant and not limited to the repertoire of the performer.
Woodbrook pub life
Until recently, De Nu Pub at French Street corner, was the most easterly watering hole located along Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook. But, with the opening of Game Time and Adrenaline sports bars closer to Colville Street, the strip has extended, encroaching on the very beginning of capital city, Port-of-Spain. Known as "the home of Manchester United," Game Time treats customers to games played by the Old Trafford football club, as well as hosts lively after-work limes. Not to be outdone, Adrenaline is embarking on "a new liming experience" from this evening.
Adrenaline management says that each and every Friday, they will take patrons on a musical journey–Flash Back Fridays–designed to be a treat of popular soca, dancehall, hip hop, reggae and house music from the 90s. Also on the menu are free complimentary shots on entry and 2-4-1 drinks specials on selective drinks until midnight.
This evening, Adrenaline also intends introducing Lord Of D Wingz, which is a wide variety of tasty flavoured wings and side orders. Patrons can get a lime platter of tasty wings, have some drinks, relax with their friends and watch televised sports events, or just enjoy a wide variety of music in Adrenaline's fully air-conditioned lounge or on the outside deck overlooking the Avenue.
Not too far off, nestled downstairs One Woodbrook Place, by Harvard Roundabout, is Circa, another snazzy showplace. Run by Stephen Marhue, Circa offers a wide variety of cocktails, delicious morsels and live entertainment. Last Friday evening, former Young Kings Monarch Stephen Marcelle turned the house out with his beautifully balanced repertoire.
Pan and games
Carnival may be over but pan folk are still active as ComPANions begins its annual sports tourney with the first round of the All Fours tournament at bpTT Renegades Pan Theatre on Charlotte Street tonight, from 8 o'clock. Bands competing in this year's multi-sport programme include reigning National Panorama champion Desperadoes, Supernovas, Renegades, Invaders, Exodus, Starlift, Claytones, Pamberi, Harmonites, Fascinators, Curepe Scherzando, Courts Sound Specialists of Laventille, Siparia Diatonic, Angel Harps, 5th Dimension, St James Tripolians, Gonzales Sheikers and Woodbrook Modernaires.
In this unique tournament, pan players compete in a wide variety of non-musical activities including football, cricket, netball, dominoes, drafts and All Fours. It culminates with a sports and family day and this year's theme is "Let's Go Up the Islands." One of the highlights on the sports finale is the Dance Past in which teams will portray aspects of the theme.
Round two of the All Fours eliminations is scheduled for tomorrow night, at 8 o'clock, at Desperadoes' panyard on Frederick Street.
New Fire Festival
Remaining in the Woodbrook area, The New Fire Festival was launched last Friday evening with a cocktail reception at Alice Yard, 80 Roberts Street.The festival will be held on Easter weekend, March 26-27, at the 40-acre Sandy Hill Nature Park, Freeport. It is a two-day outdoor camping experience, celebrating music, art, wholesome foods, yoga, meditation and talkshops, all conducted in a sustainable manner.
The New Fire Festival is branded as the first sustainable festival in T&T and is intended to sustain more than just the environment but also the indigenous cultural industry.
Easter Bonnet contest
With Easter weekend in mind, Orakkle Designs, an event management company developed to promote, enlighten and encourage participation in cultural activities, will host its second Easter Bonnet Competition on Sunday, April 3. The family fun event is scheduled to begin at 2 pm, at Central Bank Auditorium, Port-of-Spain.
VIP lounge at MovieTowne
Further west, entrepreneur Derek Chin has pushed the envelope on the cinema experience even further with the opening of the VIP Platinum Cinema & Lounge at MovieTowne, Port-of-Spain. When MovieTowne was founded in 2002 on the Invaders Bay mangrove, most business folk predicted that the venture wouldn't last beyond six months.
In fact, so risky was the vision, that banks refused to invest. That was 14 years ago. Today, MovieTowne–in stark contrast to the old days of pit and house in Globe, Strand and Empire cinemas in Port-of-Spain–not only boasts of ten thriving cinemas, but its VIP addition is a moviegoer's nirvana.
Tickets to the VIP Platinum experience cost $100 and $120 for fully reclining seats. Also available are signature Hollywood cocktails, gourmet hors d'oeuvres and, of course, popcorn. The in-cinema service is only provided 30 minutes before show time and ends when the movie begins. But specific appetisers are permitted in the cinema during the movie.
The VIP lounge is open to all and no movie ticket is necessary for admission. The Platinum cinema can accommodate 50 seated guests and the facility is available for private events.Chin's vision seems unlimited as MovieTowne is expanding to Guyana to create a $180 million shopping, entertainment and cinematic complex in Guyana's fastest growing urban area of Turkeyen.