Junior Carnival '09

Yesterday was a great day for Junior Carnival, the threatening rain clouds didn't amount to anything. There were many very well made costumes, with a stand out being the Flight of the Macaw (Fantasia).

The bands that participated were Carnival Nationz, Callaloo, Louis Saldenah Mas-K Club, Jessie Matthews, & the Calabash Co., Nip Davis & Scarborough Caribbean Sports Club, Whitney Doldron & Courtney Doldron & Associates, Mas Toronto, Whitfield Belasco & Pleasure Players, Toronto Revellers, and Tribal Knights.

Jamaal Maglorie hard at work

Father & Daughter Whitney Doldron & Courtney Doldron

Big hey to several people who recognized me & came up & said hi. When I saw the junior version of the section I'm playing in, I couldn't help but get excited and I can't wait to play mas in 2 weeks!

Sway and Feel De Vibe

Sway, Canada's black lifestyle magazine, has started to go national with this annual Caribana issue. It will now be available across Canada in 150 Chapters and Indigo (and other) stores. The cover story is an interesting interview with Jamaal Magloire (Toronto Revellers). There is also a great retrospective of Caribana's past, from the 90's back to the 60's. Oh, and check out the e-pan!

One of the People with Sway featured is Nurse Karen from FLOW 93.5 FM. Way to flow Karen! The Official Caribana Guide is also out, with cover model Naomi Cowan, host of SBCTV.
She's modeling Tribal Knight's African Lilac Breast quite well. The stylized glossy mag gives us a look at Calypso as storytelling, Mas Hysteria, and a feature on Curtis Eustace's King of Carnival wins. You can get your copy at any of the Caribana events.

It's official! Caribana is here!

It's officially Caribana season! The Launch kicked off Scotiabank Caribana events yesterday at Yonge Dundas Square instead of Nathan Phillips Square (City Hall) due to the city strike. While the smaller space was quite congested, I think it drew in a larger crowd.
Fantasia International, Connections, Tribal Knights, Toronto Revellers, Callaloo, Jessie Matthews, Nip Davis and Borokeete were the bands represented. I did find myself getting into the mas mood when the costumes were paraded on the stage.
Entertainment included Macomere Fifi, the cast from The Harder they Come, and Structure.











If you want to play mas, but think it's too late, most mas bands have several sections still available, they are not sold out, so you've still got time to select a costume.
There are no plans, say the officials, to cancel or relocate King and Queen from the city-run Lamport Stadium on July 30.

There are some new events this year: Clash of Tents, Tent Theatres, After Parade Fusion and Tent Villages goes to Ontario Place.
11 Calypsonians will perform at The Great Hall (Queen St. West) for Clash of Tents on July 29.
While watching the Parade of Bands on August 1, Soca and Calypso artists will also entertain along the Lakeshore and in the CNE grounds for the Tent Theatres.
After Parade Fusion will be a concert celebrating carnival music, and will take place at Lamport Stadium after the parade at 8 p.m. on August 1.
A Disney-styled parade of Mas Bands will be brought to Ontario Place on August 3 for Tent Villages goes to Ontario Place.

So You're coming for Caribana

You've heard about Caribana, and you've always wanted to come. But where do you start? Here's a Caribana visitors guide to the events, accommodation options and other must-see's in Toronto.

Visitors often ask what hotel to stay at, and even which hotels are close to the parade. Really, it doesn't matter where you stay. Many of the events are not in one neighbourhood. Staying downtown is your best bet though, for convenience and location to attractions. To find your hotel, go to: http://www.hotels.ca/
If you like a more personal touch, bed and breakfasts are the unique way to go. I've stayed at the Homewood Inn a few times and would recommend it. Check out the Toronto B&B site for many options.
As far as transportation goes, I would suggest taking the TTC rather than taxis, as cab rides in the city have gone up. A day pass for $9 is a smart idea, and it's good for 2 adults and 4 kids.
The festival starts with the official Launch on July 14, Junior Carnival on the 18th, the Gala on the 24th, Pan Alive on the 31st, and the Parade on August 1st. The complete list of Caribana events is on the Caribana festival site.

There are some musts for me. Junior Carnival is a wonderful chance for kids to start playing mas. It's also the parade you'll want to bring your kids to, as it's catered to children and has small crowds.

King and Queen is the opportunity for the bands to showcase their amazing colourful and shining creations. Seeing them dance on stage in the evening gives me goosebumps. King & Queen and Pan Alive are both held at Lamport Stadium, King St. West.
The parade itself begins outside of Exhibition Place (Princes Blvd.) & goes for 4 kilometres along Lakeshore Blvd. West. With over a million spectators, you can imagine what traffic is like, so take a streetcar to the CNE. Prime spots along the parade route are nabbed in the morning. Do be prepared for the sun, even rain, and to wait. There's often a long gap between bands, which isn't pleasant for spectators, so be ready to lime with drinks and food you've brought with you. Vendors along the route sell Caribbean cuisine, and there are several ice cream trucks.

What's better: watching others have fun, or having fun yourself? Instead of looking at the masqueraders behind the fence, be one yourself! Your Caribana experience will be so much more fulfilling if you play mas. There are 15 bands, many not sold out yet.

Check out the costumes the bands are designing (go to Toronto Mas Bands list), register, and get ready to jump, wine and wave!

When it comes to fetes - outdoor fetes, foam fetes, dj fetes, boat cruises, blockos, and Soca nights at clubs, you're going to want to refer to Toronto Lime. There's something for every taste and age group. Most of the clubs are in the entertainment district (King St. West area), and the bigger fetes like Fire Fete and Glow are at venues in the Harbourfront neighbourhood. Carnival in Yuh Backyard is in the north end of the city at Wild Water Kingdom, my personal fave fete spot.

De Caribana Lime - Island Festival! held on Toronto Centre Island (Olympic Island) is a fun family vibe where you can lime the day after the parade with music, entertainment and food. With the current City of Toronto strike, there's no ferry service, so this event is pending.

There are not only Caribana festival events happening in the city that you'll want to check out. The Harbourfront Centre (Queens Quay West) features free visual arts exhibitions, concerts, dance performances, cooking demos and films. Roy Cape and the Kaiso All Stars and The Mighty Shadow will perform on the Sirius Stage on July 31. Did you read free? Yes, you did! I'll never forget seeing Machel Montano in 2007. With the water behind me, and everyone doing the Jumbie dance, it was one of my favourite Soca performances in 10 years.

For information on more free things to do, and concerts, the many festivals, summerlicious, shopping, and events like the Honda Indy Toronto, go to Toronto.com.

Take in as much as you can of North America's largest Caribbean festival, and I'll bet it won't be your last visit.

DJ lemme see yuh work!

A HUGE part of Caribana for me is the Soca. We await the new tunes every year when they come out in Trinidad in Nov./Dec. We're lucky in Toronto to have a Soca season of 7+ months.
My first exposure to Soca was 10 years ago with Square One. I was hooked with Togetherness and Jack Up the World. Then for the 2001 season it was Machel Montano's Stalker & Destra's Tremble It. I would inline skate along Cherry St. area blasting these tunes, getting ready to play mas.
Of course Machel, Destra & lately KES always come out with some hits, but every year, I do wish djs would spin the hot tunes from other artists, because there are so many. Just check out Torontolime, the tunes are endless!
Here are, in no particular order, some (certainly not all) of the not-played-enough tunes I like this season.

Kryptonite - 2Ntrigue

Baby - 3 Suns

You are the One - Jungle ft Keil

Tonight - Alaine ft. Machel Montano

Umi Marcano - Some More

Put it on Me - Cha'randi

Push Yuh Body Gyul - Marvin Bostic

Soca Circus - B-Unnique ft Macka Diamond

Wuk Up Yuh Bumper - KeKeRe & KK

Jungle G & Scar - Swanky Gyal

So what are your favourites this Caribana?

Who you playing with?

With all the big band launches behind us, most everyone should be somewhat decided on who they're playing with. So, let us know, what band & section are you in? As well, you can feel free to comment on how you made your decision to play with a certain band, and why you choose a particular section.