King and Queen Pictures 2010

These are our Pictures from the King and Queen Contest last night at Lamport Stadium

As always, the sold out crowd was not disappointed. The costumes were beautiful.

I didn't label the costumes, because I don't know all the names and I don't want to label for some and leave out the rest.

Tribal Knights took King of Carnival, while Saldenah took Queen, and both male and female individuals and the new Ontario Science Centre innovation award for D' Chandelier.

Go Michelle!

King & Queen and Pan Alive

Apart from the actual parade, these are the two premier Caribana events. Its a chance to really showcase our culture in a family friendly sit down environment which is easily accessible to people not familiar with the culture.
Its a great lime, and every time I walk through the crowd I see somebody I haven't seen since probably last Caribana. Believe me, seeing the kings and queens paraded under bright stadium lights is a totally different experience than seeing them on the road. Its really something else.

When: Thursday July 29th 7:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m., rain or shine.

Opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. sharp

Where: Lamport Stadium,
1155 King Street West, Toronto

On Friday, there will be Pan Alive.
Here you will hear 13 steel bands compete as well as a guest performance by the world renowned T&T 2010 Panorama champs Silver Stars steel orchestra.
Both of these cost $30 to attend and you can get ticket info at www.caribanafestival.com

Also, for procrastinators or out-of-towners wanting to play mas, no band has sold out, so inquire with some mas camps, see if they have a costume for you.

Jean and Dinah costume for sale

38D

Jean and Dinah costume for sale, pink option, backline, ($175). Also a ticket for Socavivor, featuring Machel, for this Saturday night ($35) for sale.

42"

Call Tenille - 647 839 8604.

Costume pickup... ready for de road!

I decided to try online registration with Saldenah this year, who used Ticketgateway Inc. You have to set up an account with them, which didn't take that long. The fee is just $6. You get email confirmation immediately, and the next day I received an email from Paradise (Maracas Beach) section leader Jennelle asking for my hip size, as that wasn't an option when registering. The other section leader Nick also called me the next day. I visited the mas camp a week later and spoke with Jennelle and Nick about the costume. I was immediately told the headpiece would remain the same. Phew! They told me about changes to the bottoms (said it would be custom made, not the retail one from the launch/on display) and a slight change to the bra.

Costume pickup was a breeze, everything was there, incl. gold glitter.
The letter from Saldenah is a nice touch, letting us know what's what, to
S P R E A D O U T when at judging, & informing masqueraders about Hamilton Mardigras and Barrie Caribfest.

My widest headpiece yet! Love the shells & how when you move, the feathers sway like waves.


The bra (Mayar Lingerie) was changed again, and I really like this final version full of gems.

Fortunately they didn't go with hand made bottoms, they're a very well matched comfy retail pair.

Trini-in-Toronto chose the most popular male section, Fallen Angel. Section leader Ronnie called to have masqueraders come in for a fitting, so that come pick up day, it would already be done, and hopefully you'd be in & out, no long waits. And that was the case. I know many guys wanted to have the full body paint done like at the launch. It really made the costume stand out even more. I think it would have been an excellent opportunity for someone to provide that the morning of the parade. Section leaders didn't know anyone who sprays on body paint, and suggested checking party supplies stores for makeup paint, which we did look at, but it's just very small Halloween stuff.


Trini-in-Toronto is impressed with his horns, shoulder pads & tail.
I have to go dig out a pitchfork. The shorts are Athletic Works.

Having my costume definitely gets me properly in the mood to jump up. And of course, to do a gazillion crunches in 5 days!!!How did your registration and pick up go? Let's hear all about it...

Gemified!

So hmm, I think I have enough gems, lol! I've done a makeup test run, not bad, although I would much prefer have a pro do it, as I'm limited with my eye makeup application abilities. Eyeliner & me don't mix. Add to it that I wear contacts, which are never really comfortable, and it's a wonder I'm able to apply any eye stuff.

I picked up this cross the body purse at Target for $7. I just need something for my camera, (& sunscreen) and this does the job.

I have some supplies to decorate my boots, and my goal is not to glue anything on them & no glitter, as I intend on wearing them again (they're just so cute & a style I like to wear.) So I have something in mind that I think will work.
So how are your preparations going, got everything you need?
The only thing left to do, well, it's no little thing, is a lot of ab exercises this week, gulp!

Mas tights

I got an email from Miss Nik asking about tights, "We are coming up from DC to Toronto next Thursday, is there a place in Toronto to purchase tights? It's been hard to find the right tights here in our skin tone, fairly 'chocolate'!"

This information comes from Tara, many thanks gyrl! She got "Body Wrappers" Total stretch tights Ultimate Shimmer Footed ($19) at Malabar, which is downtown at McCaul/Queen. They are meant for dance/costumes. They told her they ordered them in stock specifically for those asking for Caribana tights.
Of course Legs Beautiful sells many, including Philippe Matignon which Tara got in the Jade (style) in the colour Playa Nature. They're shimmery, so the same as the ones Hooters girls wear. ($19.95)
You can also try other hosiery stores such as Sox City and Phantom Industries, both have a few locations.

I got a couple pairs of these at Micles in Trinidad & wore them for Carnival '07 & last year's Caribana. I was pleased with the low waist, very necessary for these skimpy waistbands, but they don't have any sheen to them, & they were a bit too light.

A few weeks ago Tara & I ordered online some Peavey hose - they're advertised as the (Hooters) waitress hose.

Suntan with no cotton panel ($6.49)

So they're too dark now, but I'll be spray tanning and hope to match 'em, but if I'm still too light, I'll have to find something else. I didn't order the light beige because they looked just like the Silky's I have.

So ladies, where did you get your tights, any suggestions?

Trini-in-Toronto has something to say about all this: just because you're in Canada, doesn't mean you should wear (control top) panty hose on de road. There's absoutely no excuse for wearing those control tops. Wear sheer to waist.
I steups over this critical picking apart in a way, bc frig men have it easy on de road, they don't have all these extra things (tights, makeup, accessories, bags) to worry about. However, on the other hand, I do know what he means, seeing the entire control top looks pretty awful.

Scotiabank Caribana Festival to receive an extra boost from Title Sponsor.

The Festival Management Committee (FMC) today announced that Scotiabank Caribana will receive immediate extra financial help from Scotiabank. This one-time funding will be used to support Festival performers.
“The Festival Management Committee is very appreciative of this cash infusion by our lead sponsor,” said Joe Halstead, the Chair of the festival. “While we are grateful for this additional funding support, this year’s Festival still has a considerable gap to close over the next two weeks.”
“On behalf of the all the Carnival performers we want to say thank-you to Scotiabank,” said Louis Saldenah, the president of the Toronto Mas Band Association. “It will help participants defray some their costs while showcasing Scotiabank’s contribution on the parade route.”

Yeah, so i guess I need to be shouting out Scotiabank a little more. I happen to like them, they have held our mortgage for the past 7 years or so, and we have stuck with them partly because of their choice to support our community festival (their rates were competitive also)


So, there are a couple of events happening this week:
The scotiabank Caribana Gala and after party, and the Calypso Monarch Competition

This is Friday night and its taking place at the Liberty Grand Complex (Toronto’s CNE grounds). It will host a dinner experience for over 600 guests featuring the melodious sounds and culinary splendor of the Carnival through music, costumes (worn by members of the Xpats and Fantasia Mas Bands), magnificent dinner program, silent auction and even livelier performances.
Scheduled to appear both at the Gala and at the new After Gala party will be Trinidad & Tobago’s Silver Stars Steel Orchestra – the world’s best steel drum band. Silver Stars are the only steelband to win “Band of the Year” for its Trinidad & Tobago Mas presentation. Musically, they have also won many other competitions; most recently the title of 2009 and 2010 Trinidad & Tobago Panorama Champions.

One of Canada’s best steelpan orchestras, Afropan Steelband will also perform at the Gala, as will as Salmon Cupid; the inventor of the computerized E-Pan. Also scheduled to appear will be the African Rhythm Society (featuring Gasmine Pierre), young singers Carissa Baron and Rachel Lloyd, the 2009 Canadian Calypso Monarch Michael Thomas aka “Redman,” and one of Canada’s fastest, rising Calypsonian singers, 13-year old, Rashida. Ossie Gurley & de Relatives will be appearing during the After Party along with one of Toronto’s best Caribbean deejay – DJ Soca Vibes.

Tickets are now available for the third annual Scotiabank Caribana Gala and the new After Gala Party. The Gala will be held July 23rd, 2010 at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex on the grounds of the CNE in Toronto. Doors open at 5.30 pm and the sit-down dinner begins at 7.30 pm. Dress for the party is Formal. Tickets - $160 / Table -$1,600 (includes the After Party). The After-Party begins at 9.30 and runs to 2 am. Tickets for After Gala Party are $40 (if not attending the Gala).

The Calypso Monarch competition will be on Saturday
● Calypso Monarch Finals
Saturday, July 24th 7:30pm
Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Rd.
Adv $35.00  Door $40.00
Tickets can be purchased on www.ticketgateway.com
<http://www.ticketgateway.com/>
Canada's top nine calypso singers vie for the title of Calypso Monarch and over $15,000. in prizes. Eight finalists will be chosen at a Preliminary judging round - the final weekend performances of the Calypso Tents Music Series on Saturday, July 3rd, 8pm (The Professionals) and Sunday, July 4th, 4pm (Kaiso Forum).

The eight singers with the highest points join last year's monarch Redman for an exciting evening of calypso at Ontario Science Centre on Saturday, July 24th. The nine finalists perform two newly-composed calypsos before a panel of judges. Each song was awarded points out of a maximum of 100 points divided into five (5) categories as follows:

Lyrics -            35
Melody -         20
Vocal Rendition - 25
Presentation -  10
Originality -    10

Cash prizes and gifts are awarded to the four (4) singers with the highest score out of a total of 200 points. In addition, there are the following special awards categories: Arrangement, Local Content, Humor, Background Vocals, and New Artiste.

The Calypso Monarch Competition attracts singers from across the GTA and beyond and has been held annually in Toronto for the past 28 years. The 2009 first prize winner Redman sang "Black Hen Chicken" and "No Picong". Redman was recently featured in the 2010 Georgia Caribbean Carnival in Atlanta, USA. He will be a special guest at the Notting Hill Carnival later this year in London, UK.

Caribana media launch

Sunday night we went to a media launch party for Caribana 2010 . We were there because Caribana has decided to expand the definition of media beyond the normal print, TV, radio and commercial websites to include the likes of social network gurus and bloggers (gurus wasn’t my term).

Before you go thinking that Caribana is complaining over the lack of funding, but they have money to wine and dine facebookers, please know that I paid a cover and there was a cash bar. (Karabana escaped the cover because they let women in free.)

I was reading an article in the Star and Caribana has had anticipated Government funding cut by more than $700K. They have made up most of the shortfall through new corporate sponsors, spending cuts and a 30% cut to staff salaries. They also mentioned that a large chunk of the spending cuts came out of their advertising budgets.

I guess this probably prompted a brainstorming session and somebody figured they should make use of this free advertizing they can get from the non traditional media.

I enjoyed the chance to talk to many of the promotion and marketing staff, as well as a couple senior administrators. It was interesting to hear about the diverse marketing and business backgrounds that the key players possessed, the festival is in some very capable hands.

Here's a video.

At the party, TruDynasty pulled a bit of a coup, they were the sole mas band to dazzle the attendees with their beautiful costumes. Not only did they show off their costumes, but after the presentation, the models mingled with the crowd and handed out glossy brochures of their offering. Pretty slick. I told you guys, Tru Dynasty has a knack for salesmanship, expect big moves from these guys in the future.

If anyone else reading attended, what are your comments about the evening?