Big fun at the Big Top

~ Must start with a BIG UP to you Ross, thanks a lot!! :-)~
What?: Carnival Nationz band launch, Big Top. Where: the Docks
When?: Now at 12:00, you don't expect to have to wait in such a long unmoving line, but there it was. At least the Farmers Rhythm Section played to preoccupy the crowd which was getting antsy. There was the usual steupsing, people were complaining they were afraid they missed the costumes. So when a crowd finally reached the door only to be told to wait further by the one security guy letting them in, the shoving, shouting & general blast at security ensued.
We managed to get in at 1:00 and were greeted by a line of gyrls handing out swag (Money Gram pens & keychain/bottle openers). Inside was decked out with a popcorn machine, cotton candy, snow cones, and those long animal balloons, fun treats given out to get the anxious crowd into the theme. Their Greatest Show on Earth banner held big promises. MC's SKF (I think) & Earl La Pierre Jr. came out at 1:15, welcomed everyone to the Big Top and assured us big things were on the way.

Two acrobats started the show.

Which was a hot intro to the first section, Fire. Yes, Fire is the costume for 2007, seems every band has a blazing hot Fire. I think red is the #1 favourite costume colour.

The large soft plumes on the headpiece and on the fanny would be the theme for many of the costumes.

Fire Daddy

Second section was Ariel. Sharp emerald colour, and the thick ribbon detail is a different touch.

Cute ballerina tutu for those who want to feel (a wee bit) more covered. Halter top with gold rings looks sexy.
Flourishing peacock feathered back pack, very foresty.


Next up, Jester. The first thing I saw coming at us was the pointy headpiece, which to me is big trouble. Can't see those sharp plastic points being a hit to wear (or to try & get jam from), but from a design standpoint, it does look right to complete the costume.



Then instantly I see the ribbons and think hmmmmm?, channeling Pierrot Grande?


Cotton candy got big applause, lots of gyrls like their pink.


She can't help but admire Candy man's large crystal on his candy stick.


Very vibrant fuschia, tall plumes - will be a popular section.


Siberian Tiger came out with a roar, not only because they blasted Jumbie, but the costume is fierce!!!

Rhinestones, feather boa, strapless feathered bra, massive mohawkish headpiece = LOVIN it!!

Feelin Jumbie.

Lion tamers was, well, tame. Shiny sharp colour mix of gold, copper and brown. But only one model was feelin her inner lioness.





When Acrobats came out, I thought I've seen this before!... Saucy Diva, isn't this baby doll (or a revamped version of it)?


Shimmery blue ocean coins, silver hoops, & that's about it folks... very skimpy, plenty of scandal potential. Xtremely sexee!



 

LOVE love LoVe the makeup! I want that!!!! (I must look into where/how to get such fabUlous makeup...)
Gypsies were next. First thought was, I really like the mango colour, don't see too much of this shade, and second, I love the abundance of jingly gold coins. When you don't scrimp on such features, it makes the mas come alive more. The unique and very stylish style bra/corset will be a perfect choice for cup runneth over gyrls.



This will be such a comfortable costume, and will really sparkle on the road.


I was curiously awaiting Sexy Clown, because a clown? Sexy? Plenty of lime & pastels and pouff, not my particular colours, but I know many will look great in it. It's a fun costume, and very importantly, the models represented that, they had a blast with it, especially Mr. Crazy Clown.

talk about insane clown possee.

Clown painted on his back & clown face back pack.

When I saw these large purple plumes coming onto the stage, I got goosebumps. Purple is my passion. I have a weakness for that colour. Snake charmer is a sumptuous costume, with that high gold snake plumed headpiece...

and lush gold bra & waist band.


Makeup artists did such an amazing job on all the models, check out the snakes w rhinestone eyes.



The grande finale was Warrior Spirit, er, Wild Indian. Native is also a prerequisite costume - it will probably sell out first.

SKF introducing his section.

Designers learned from the Tribe headpiece blunder that didn't stay on securely, so this has a cowboy cap in the back - very smart.

Parade of all costumes.

I only learned afterwards that Snake Charmer is in fact Ross' section... :-) (former Sally designer/section leader we played with) What's the chance in that?!!

I really like a few costumes, can so see me wearing several in Callaloo & Sally also, so yikes, decisions, decisions...! Great shots Trini-in-Toronto, it was worth going, huh?

Carnival Nationz is going for the big win again, and from this launch, I must say watch out rivals, because their costume designs continue to be modstyle, sexy, & have special unique touches characteristic of a Band of the Year.

CARNIVAL NATIONS BAND LAUNCH

Carnival Nationz band launch this weekend

Plenty people think Carnival Nationz, led by Curtis Eustace and his brother Marcus are going for a hat trick this year by winning the coveted Caribana band of the year tile for the 3^rd time in a row. This might not sound that impressive until you hear that this will only be their third year as band leaders.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that these guys are an overnight success. They, like Marlon Singh of Callaloo, got their start as section leaders in Louis Saldenahs’ band and have both gone on to head their own successful enterprises.

Curtis is the same Mr Eustace that has won the most prestigious Trinidad King of the Bands title 8 times. I believe this ties him with Peter Samuel. (4 of these times were in a row…. also a record)

These guys have become such a huge force in Toronto. They are also promoters and have teamed up with other top Toronto Djs and Promoters like De Island boyz and D Bandit. They have put on huge fetes like Unite the nations, All Ah we, Memoirs of Soca, Boarding pass fete and plenty others. These are the parties that all of the younger crowd flocks to, Hence it was only natural that when they brought out their band 2 ago, the “youths” claimed this band as their own and have been supporting them in a big way.

To borrow a phrase from Pepsi, they are generation Next.

Their launch is this Saturday

Saturday May 26th, 2007
2-time defending Caribana “Band of the Year”
lCarnival Nationz Launches... it’s 2007 presentation…
"The Big TOP"
At: Next Level Nightclub – 11 Polson St (Docks Complex)
Featuring: D’Bandit ~ Court Jester ~ Soca Sweetness ~ Farmer’s Rhythm Section
Hosted by: SKF & EMAN
Plus: Carnival Nationz Models and much more…
Adm: $10 for 2K6 CNz masqueraders ~ $15 (+sc) adv tickets for non-masqueraders ~ more @ door
Ticket Outlets: BAD LAD @ (416) 335.5292 ~ Play de Record @ (416) 586.0380 ~ Charlie’s @ (905) 896.3663 ~ Drupati’s @ (416) 745.4189
Info: www.carnivalnationz.com ~ www.islandboyz.com ~ www.dbandit.com ~ wwwcourtjesteronline.com

I’ll try and get some pics from the launch, but I am not going to be able to make it. As always they will be up on Toronto-lime.com

Ready for mas again?

(Trini-in-Toronto: I know this was on the other blog, but I figured it would be good to have it all in one place for any newcomers.)

(Posted March 13 on http://mocagyrl.blog.com/)

Didn’t get enough of Trinidad Carnival, and can’t stand the thought of waiting 11 months to play mas again? Well, what about waiting just 5 months? If you can’t bear the thought of not jumping up ‘till February ’08, I’ve got a solution for you – Caribana!

http://wejumpinghigher.com/ It’s North America’s largest Caribbean carnival/festival, about to celebrate it’s 40^th this year. Caribana always attracts Americans who know Torontonians know how to party. I especially encourage New Yorkers who have never been to come; I promise you’ll be impressed. Last year Hubby met some people online from New York who never experienced a carnival and really wanted to. They came for Caribana, stayed in university dorms where they met other first time masqueraders, experienced much of the city, and had a blast!

Consider Caribana your cheaper Carnival alternative – playing mas won’t set you back near as much as it does in Trinidad. Fetes run from $20-40. The most expensive costume is $135. You’ve got the old school bands keeping the Trinidad traditions alive, plus newbie bands who give younger second generation masqueraders their bikini mas. For the last 7 years, the average Caribana day temperature was 27°, so you’ll get your sun! My first strong recommendation is to go on boat cruise fete - Roy Cape is always a good choice, and if it’s put on by a Guyanese Chinese style restaurant, you’re good to go! Besides the Saturday parade, there’s Junior (kiddies) Carnival, art exhibitions & cultural performances, Calypso Monarch finals, park concerts, King & Queen, Pan Alive, & even a Caribana Ball.

The following weekend is Hamilton Carnival, a 1 hour drive from Toronto. This smaller parade has a fun, no pressure kind of vibe, because bands parade through downtown & end up in a park where there's vendors and entertainment. So even though it tends to have a friendly family feel, it is carnival, so masqueraders still jump up & get on bad.

Besides Caribana, Toronto in the summer (especially the week of & after Caribana) is so fun, there’s always a lot going on, enough variety for every travelers taste. There’s shopping galore whether it’s huge outlets, designer duds, bargain bins, or second hand you’re looking for. You know how far your USD will go. I highly suggest a romantic picnic, wine & cheese style, under the stars watching a Shakespeare comedy in a secluded park. And can you say festivals? At the Beer Festival one year we heard a fantastic reggae band. Good times! The hugely popular food & entertainment Greek street party, Taste of the Danforth, is a must-do. If you want to sample some other kinds of music, there’s the Beach’s Jazz Festival and the Irie Music Festival. Masala! Mehndi! Masti! is a colourful South Asian festival featuring music, dance, film & cuisine. There’s always many theatrical productions running, and if it’s laid back you want, the Toronto symphony will deliver.

http://www.toronto.com/ for info on hotels, attractions, restaurants, clubs, shopping & events. Trip Advisor is always great for reviews: http://www.tripadvisor.com To select your price range & even a proximity search for Toronto hotels, check http://www.hotels.ca For Toronto dorm rooms, go to: http://www.hostels.com (you can select prices in USD) Bed & breakfast's, which I personally prefer to stay in, check http://www.torontocitybandb.com

This year we just might open our home, give guest rooms, to Caribana weekenders!

Hmmm… although this might have sounded like it, I was not commissioned by the city or Caribana to write a travel piece! Hubby asked me over a week ago to write something to entice all the out of country Carnival bloggers we met to come for Caribana. So I will conclude with this: Caribana - it’s the next best thing to Carnival!!

~Soca or Die 6~

One of the biggest fetes in the west end to kick off Caribana '07 was well worth the wait in the cold ass line up. This was my sis & bro-in-law's first fete, & I think it was a good first time experience. They got some excellent shots, including Wanda's above TriniGyrl, & Rudder below.
The high priest himself King David Rudder started off the show at 1:30, & he delivered his standard strong set, including The Hammer, Trini 2 de Bone, & Bahia Girl.

Jeremy Leadbeater

Kerwin Du Bois's Madology and Party Rocker were both good.

Mamacita is one of my fave hottest tunes this season, so I was especially looking forward to Collie Buddz, but his 20 or so minutes on stage was rather underwhelming. The crowd was feeling Come Around & Mamacita, but his other stuff, not so much.At 3:00 Nadia Batson performed with KES the Band & brought down de place with My Land and Lion.
Ziggy Rankin was a no show as apparently he couldn't get into the country. (Hmmmm...??)

The great quality corn soup & bake n shark after were hot & tasty enough to almost make you stop shivering. Tasted like Trinidad, but didn't feel like Trinidad ...maybe in June.
Up next, Carnival Nationz Big Top band launch!

Louis Saldenah Band Launch 2007 Rain Forest

Louis Saldenah Band Launch 2007

Rain Forest

http://www.saldenahcarnival.com/

Hi Everyone, We were not able to hit the Saldenah band Launch last night. One of my friends Courtney went and he took these picks so you all can check out the costumes.
I have to say that they are beautiful quality pics and the costumes look really good.

I always like to see masqueraders in a really bright red costume, and you can't go wrong with a boa either.

















Really nice shade of blue, and the beadwork is pretty nice.



















I really liked the background pictures and props. It looks like they made a good effort for the presentation. Lots of plumes.
































You have to like this head piece, Big enough to be glamorous but small enough to throw waist. I like the colors and the fringes.















Very nice, kinda reminds me of those Amerindian costumes in our history books, love the colors.


















Nice contrast, the orange really pops.

Every time I see a bright green costume I think how hot it will look in the sun

Very touristy
















Very well done guys. There is a reason they have done so well over the years.

Again, Thanks Courtney for the excellent shots and I hope you all are enjoying your long weekend.

The standard of costumes looks really good this year, I'm seeing something for everyone, I really can't wait.
Its no work tomorrow, so is fete tonight. If you all catch us in sin city, hail us out.

Laters

Trini-in-Toronto

Camp Carnival

Camp Carnival http://www.campcarnival.org/index.html

This is a new initiative that I just heard about, I got this e-mail advertising tickets for a fete and they mentioned that part proceeds are going to support this group.

It is sort of a summer day camp for students exposing them to Carnival culture

It hasn’t launched yet, but it really sounds like a great concept. Check out the link, they have a pretty cool website

Our MissionThrough activities rooted in the Caribana Festival, Camp Carnival aims to provide at-risk youth of Toronto with novel, intensely engaging opportunities to gain artistic experience, while facilitating personal growth, life-skill development, community reinforcement and cultural participation.
What Is Camp Carnival?
Camp Carnival is the first-ever, youth-focused, not-for-profit educational program promoting the Caribbean-inspired phenomenon that is the Toronto Carnival (Caribana) Festival. Camp Carnival takes advantage of the great excitement Caribana stirs in youth and uses it as a tool for demonstrating the importance of the arts.
Program StructureCamp Carnival is scheduled to run from June 2nd to August 5th, intensifying the highly anticipated Caribana 40th anniversary festivities.
During this initial pilot project, We Makin’ Mas, fifteen (15) youth will participate in a series of educational workshops and experience first-hand, the process of making mas. Mas, a shortened form of ‘masquerade’, is a colloquial term referring to the costumes worn by revellers during the Caribana parade.
The creation of big mas, extravagant, float-like costumes is deemed by many to be the creative pinnacle of the Caribana festivities. Under the guidance of experienced mas practitioners, youth will be involved in all stages of creating big mas, from conception to design, planning, construction and performance. Youth will have the opportunity to experience the thrill of showcasing their collaborative work at high-profile Caribana events.

I pulled all this from their site, I really think it is a concept worth supporting.

Laters
Trini-in-Toronto

Louis Saldenah band launch

Louis Saldenah band launch

Well, Saldenah is one of our veteran Mas men in Toronto. He has been making Mas in Toronto for more than 25 years and has won band of the year 15 times. Considering Caribana has only been around 40 years (this year) that’s quite a feat.

Every time I have played mas (about 12 times) in Toronto, it has been with Saldenah. I was 18 when I moved back to Canada after living 10 years in Trinidad and I was pretty homesick. It was 1989 and the Caribbean scene in T.O. was nothing like it is now. Today, from the time Easter starts to the end of September, you can’t go 3 weeks without a major Caribbean artist having a show. And if you are looking of a DJ soca jam, you can pretty much find one any weekend.
I used to have to wake up really early on Monday Mornings to listed to community radio to listen to “Ras Rico I” spin soca tracks. Today we have Caribbean programming everyday on Community radio and Dr Jay has a program on a commercial radio station.

Back when I first played mas with Saldenah, I was attracted because I had friends in the band and I can’t remember if he was there the very first time I played, but for many years David Rudder would perform. Back in those days, I was a Rudder Stalker, Anytime he performer I would be there, I would go to an afternoon/evening boat cruise on Lake Ontario, take in the show, drive home, shower, change and drive back downtown to see him perform again at the Bamboo club.
But this post is supposed to be about the band launch….

Since that time, Traffic featuring Sherwayne Winchester has now become Saldenahs band of choice for the road. (Don’t know who they have this year yet, I will let you know after the launch.) Over the years I recognize a lot of the same faces year after year playing in the band, it’s a really nice atmosphere. With multiple generations of masqueraders jumping together. I was planning on pulling some more history on him for this post from his website, but they have closed it until after the launch http://www.saldenahcarnival.com/

I have some family commitments this Weekend so I won’t be hitting the launch, but I hope to get some pics and I will put them up. If push comes to shove I might have t borrow some from http://www.toronto-lime.com/ or Saucy http://www.saucytrini.blogspot.com/

Sunday night we are going to hit Soca or Die 6.
I’ll let you all know how it was after the fete.

Laters people

Trini-in-Toronto

Karabana is still busy, so I will post again.
Would you believe that it is 27 degrees Celsius and there is a thunderstorm that knocked out my satellite TV and there is hail falling from the sky onto my poor car that doesn’t have a garage? But I digress….

Our culture (West Indian) is influencing all sorts of aspects of Toronto society.

I say West Indian culture and not Trinidad culture (although I am a Trini) because the more West Indians I meet and the more islands I visit, I see that we have more in common than we have as differences. Also, living on a continent that lumps us altogether (for the most part) and sees no distinction between what little island in particular you hail from, might impact my feelings…. But I might hit this topic again later.
Today I want to talk about a dream in High Park. Not the High Park in England, the one in Toronto. For 25 years now, the people at Canstage and their corporate sponsors have been putting on a Shakespeare play that runs the entire summer. Now, I did take English lit at Saints up until CXC, but I never really cared for Shakespeare. This is not the really boring coles notes version they teach in Highschool . These guys modernize the costumes and work in lots of jokes keeping the atmosphere light. Did I mention this is all happening outside under the stars in a natural grassy amphitheatre. Kinda like the one they built at the new library close to Woodford square, but instead of concrete steps, its carved out of a grassy hill.
So you walk with a blanket, your girl, a picnic and maybe a bottle of wine, and you pay what you can,(minimum suggested donation) and you check out the show. I started going back in my single days, it was a pretty cheap date and the chicks dug it. Now it is one of the things I really look forward to about summer in Toronto.
What does this have to do with Caribana you ask? Well, this year they are performing a mid summer nights dream and the director/Dub poet (Ahdri Zhina Mandiela) is spicing up the performance with a Caribbean flavour. I’m not sure how she is planning to accomplish this, but I can’t wait to see. They are taking this Caribbean theme to the point that on August 12th they are putting on a island themed carnival parade featuring costumed masqueraders, buskers and steel bands. (Before the play of course) For some background, High Park is not really in a West Indian neighbourhood, and the plays are not targeted towards any ethnic group in particular. So, when you attend these plays you find a crowd that is more than half white Canadians, and the rest are literally from the four corners of the globe.

This is our culture affecting mainstream Canadian (or at least Toronto) culture and changing they way people think.

When I was 5 years old, on Saturday mornings, my great Grandmother would take me on the street car down to Kensington Market (not sure why Canadians like to name places after England all the time:) and She would buy all her West Indian (she was from Barbados) ingredients and she would get me a Jamaican patty to take for lunch on Monday. Nobody in my school had any idea what it was I would be eating and when I let friends taste it, they would writhe in pain over the spicy flavour. Today you can’t walk into a corner shop in Toronto and not see a Patty.
Caribana is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2007. The Parade has grown to almost 1 million attendees (the population of Trinidad is about 1,065,842 (July 2006 est.) according to the CIA… I don’t know.
It’s a pretty big deal. Not everybody is happy about it, some people love it, others hate it, some try to ignore it, but most everyone has an opinion on it.
Come check what we are doing in this Country.

Link to some works by the director
http://www.griots.net/archives/mandiela/

If you are visiting for Caribana, you can easily catch the play in the evening, hop on the subway and be back downtown long before the club starts bumpin.
No reservations required but reach early to ensure good seating.
Media release for the play
http://www.canstage.com/2006-2007/pdf/Release%20-%20Dream%20in%20High%20Park.pdf

Big Welcome to my Guest Blogger, Trini-in-Toronto (Hubby) who because I'm quite busy with my practicum, will be blogging about the first big Caribana band launch, Callaloo!
(Have to explain the first two pics below. They were playing a Trini Carnival video, featuring a lot of Tribe, real nice to see, & lo & behold, who do we see but Kevian in Jab Jab! Then the screen froze for at least 1 minute, so we clicked a shot. Funny too, bceause we were thinking of you Kevian, so nice to see ya!)


Alright, Karabana has granted me this small space to say a few words about our experience at Callaloos' band launch. Well, it never seems to be a colder night than when you are lining up outside a club waiting for security to let you inside. The wait wasn't overly long, but it was pretty windy.
I must send out a big thank you to Courtney for his assistance and information regarding the band launch.

So the lime was Me, Karabana and Buublenut. We met at our house for drinks and then went over to Sin City. Its my first time at this club and it won't be the last, as we are hitting Soca or Die next week and we will try to hit Saldenah's launch also. (if we can't reach the lauch we will visit the mas camp to get some pics for the people ) This place must be under new management, since I hadn't really heard of West Indian promoters using them so much in the past. Speaking of Soca or die, we have a couple extra tickets if anyone needs them, you could drop us a line.

On to the launch...




You all have to forgive me, I am new to this roving reporter business, and nobody walked with a notepad, so we don't know the sections names, but we took plenty pictures and if you all see something you think you will look sexy in, you can go to http://callaloo.net/ and get all the info I'm sure it will be updated soon.
This is Callaloo's 10th anniversary, & I remember when they first went out on their own. Now, the impression that I first got from them, was that they had costumes that were designed by women for women. They were one of the first bands to provide good fitting, attractive bras for their masqueraders. I remember they came out with those strapless bras with the see through plastic straps.
Now this doesn't sound like a big deal now, because everyone is doing it now, but when they started, alot of the other bands in Toronto were still providing these flimsy imitation sport bras that were pretty crappy. This is what I know about Callaloo... you can go to their site for the rest of the story....

I like this green costume, I never play in green before and I find this color looks nice in the hot sun

Ok, Please don't make fun of my cloudy shots, we accepting donations if you want to give us a better camera to use. This is burgandy and it looks really nice, but the shot didn't really do it justice. Plenty plumes for the front line HOs.

You can't really make out the headpeice in this shot, due to the contrast, but it look good in person
check out the boots this costume is really taking after Imp!
See, we have intricate beadwork and ting, right here in T.O.

You say you liked the previous one, but you need some more feathers...
Here is one of the only two male costumes modeled. I'm sure there are male costumes available in every section, but really, carnival is about woman ....ENT?

I like the pink AND BLACK .... VERY VEGAS SHOW GIRL LIKE.


I've also never played in a primarily purple costume. I wouldn't mind trying that


They have here various options to choose to fit every body type



OK folks, thats the end of our pictures. I'm not really into fashion and can't come up with insightful comments on costume design, I'll leave this to the experts. I find the costumes looked attractive, and the most important thing is to enjoy yourself.... I mean to really enjoy yourself at Caribana, you need to get yourself a costume and play mas.
My job is not to tell you who to play with, but just to enourage you to come out and play.
Now, lanuches and fetes are going to be coming fast and furious from here on in, so, we will try and hit as many mas camps as we can and share info on all the other caribana events that will be coming up.
So go to a band launch, jump up in a fete, check out a pan yard, take in the culture and enjoy our festival.
Allyuh please leave some comments, otherwize Karabana won't let me write anything again. And if you all (especially the visitors) have any questions, please ask and I will do my best to help you out.
Until next time
Laters
Trini-in-Toronto