Category Archives: Caribbean

June 24, 2017 6:03 PM By HadasKuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) It was Caribbean Day at the Reading Terminal Market Saturday.

Miranda Alexander, founder and organizer of the 4th annual event said,This is bringing the Caribbean organizations that are scattered throughout Philadelphia to a central location.

One of the main focuses of Caribbean Day is highlighting the diverse culture through language, tradition and of course the food.

She explains, Culture has to do with food, the way we talk, the way we walk, the we laugh, the way we interact with each other.

Alexander also pointed out there are a lot of famous people with Caribbean heritage.

ALSO READ: Philadelphia Honors Boyz II Men With Renaming City Street

People like Beyonce, her fathers from the Bahamas, she said. LL Cool Js grandfather is from Barbatos.

She says that one of Caribbean Days staples is their cooking demo.

This year we had Coretta Brown Matthews doing a Jamaican-style traditional jerk chicken, rice and peas and cabbage and then we also had cultural performances, she said. This is the first year we are actually selling products at the market.

Alexander says while the Caribbean islands are known for being laid-back, she wants people to know that the Caribbean people are extremely hard-working.

This is Immigrant Heritage Month too, in addition to Caribbean-American heritage month in the month of June, she said. We are the ones that are driving entrepreneurship.

Hadas Kuznits has been as a news writer/reporter for KYW Newsradio since September 2002, and has traveled the city and the world while covering stories for Newsradio. She is also the host of KYW's series "What's Cooking on 1060!" -- covering...

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Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market Hosts 4th Annual Caribbean Day - CBS Philly

Gone are the days when we Caribbean people have to wait for a trip back home to enjoy our favorite fruits and produce. During a recent trip to a local supermarket, I browsed around in the produce section when my eyes landed on a familiar citrus fruit. That couldnt be what I think it is; and as I got closer my suspicions were accurate. I saw a box of sour oranges in the international foods section. The sight of these sour oranges immediately activated my taste buds. Why or how? It was amazing that the memories of my parents juicing the very same fruit that they practically had to force me to drink for cleansing made the memories wash across my mind. The taste of this thing was not pleasant at all nor was it very appealing to a childs taste buds.

The sour orange (Citrus Aurantium) is also known as Seville orange, bigarade orange and also bitter orange. This is a citrus fruit that is native to Southeast Asia and was brought to the Caribbean by European settlers. Many historians say that most of the fruits we enjoy in the Caribbean were introduced by new settlers from all over the world. Since the sour orange plant seems to thrive best near small streams in wooded areas, tropical countries provided an ideal habitat. Sour oranges are also found growing in many wooded areas in the state of Florida.

For most Caribbean people, the memories of homemade marmalade and jams made from sour oranges are forever etched in their minds. Most recall two thick slices of hard dough bread with lumps of marmalade or jam in between with a long glass of sour orange punch (made like lemonade). The sugar made it taste so much better. For others, marmalade on crackers was mmm-mmm good.

Janet White, who grew up in the eastern part of Jamaica, stated, I remember how I learned to appreciate the sour yet slightly bitter flavor of my moms special homemade punch.

Back in the old days when I walked to and from school was when I appreciated it the most, she continued. Walking in the hot Caribbean sun drained my energy so I looked forward to quenching my thirst with a long, cold glass of my mothers sour orange-flavored punch. It was delicious.

On the other hand, Yvonne Downie a resident of the Overbrook section of Philadelphia recalls a family recipe for upset stomach. One or two egg whites, a teaspoon of grated nutmeg and a tablespoon of brandy was added to about 4 ounces of sour orange juice and blended together. Since blenders were not available a table fork or a whisk was used to blend the ingredients together. I was the picky eater of the family back then. I can still hear the instruction as my parents stood over me yelling, HERE, DRINK IT FAST and SWALLOW IT!! You guessed it I did just that because I knew that it would work!

Another sour orange recipe that was passed down from the older generation was a concoction known as a great remedy for the flu especially when it included a sore throat. One large sour orange and one tablespoon of raw cane sugar is all you need. Place the sour orange on top of fire coals to roast it and keep turning it until the entire fruit is completed done. Remove the sour orange from the heat and set aside to cool. Cut across the top of the roasted orange and leave an opening about two inches across. Add the raw sugar and mix gently into the soft orange pulp until it completely melts. The roasted sour orange pulp is now ready to be scooped out and eaten until it is all gone.

Another use for sour oranges in the Caribbean was doing laundry. The oranges were cut and added to soapy water. This was used for washing clothes and household cleaning. This citrus flavor left a very pleasant smell that was fresh and clean. Sour oranges have become very popular all around the world.

Once again ladies and gentlemen, we find that what we found as commonplace back home and even foods that we thought of as distasteful to our palates, are all now being embraced right here in the U.S. as whole foods or holistic foods. We need to go back to our roots and embrace what our grandmamas taught us!

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Sour oranges in the US bring back Caribbean memories - The Philadelphia Tribune

BBC News

First war memorial to Afro-Caribbean soldiers unveiled in London ... BBC News The sculpture is dedicated to the two million Afro-Caribbean soldiers who fought in both world wars. African and Caribbean service in world wars recognised - ITV NewsITV News African, Caribbean war veterans memorial unveiled in Britain - The ...The Nation Newspaper all 5 news articles »

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First war memorial to Afro-Caribbean soldiers unveiled in London ... - BBC News

Alex Treadway

Want to visit a Caribbean Island but don't feel like rubbing shoulders with hundreds of sunburned American tourists? Go to Tobago.

Perhaps youve heard of the Caribbean, the beach-filled, sunny, and resort-laden destination for cruise ships and tan-seeking vacationers? Maybe youve considered being one of those vacationers?

Heres the upside: Its easy and affordable to get there. And then the problem: Most popular spots within the Caribbeanlike Turks and Caicos and Saint Thomasare perpetually overrun by tourists (like you).

There is, luckily, an alternative to packing yourself into a Caribbean beach filled with hundreds of other sunscreen-soaked Americans. Let me introduce you to Tobago,the lesser-known sibling island to Trinidad. Its the place you go when you want to sit on a quiet beach in the Caribbean and not be surrounded by yachts or spring breakers. From a lot of major cities, theres a direct flight to Trinidad; from there, just hop on a quick 15-minute flight (very cheap and leaves every 30 minutes), and youre in Tobago.

The island is intimate, the culture is chill, the locals are friendly, and its very easy to get around. Super developed, Tobago is not. Compared with its Caribbean cousins, the place is bare of malls and brand-name hotels. Youre coming to Tobago, instead, because youre looking for unadulterated nature and a slow-going place to laze on the beach with friends.

And because its not yet a tourist town, the food caters to the localsmeaning youre not getting watered-down resort fare. Youll find spicey and chile-laden goat curry spots, as well as Italian food in tree houses, excellent takeout kebab, and freshly grilled seafood served beachside.

Tobago is so low-key that there are essentially no travel books available on the country. So heres your beginners guide to the Caribbean gem.

There are some hotels and resorts on the island, but most are still pretty rudimentary. Your best bet for comfy digs is to rent a condo or a house on HomeAway or VRBO, which will likely be both less expensive and more comfortable than the area hotels. Go for the properties right on the beach.

Like most beach vacations, Tobago is best experienced in five days to a week. Lucky for those who have to endure chilly winters, the best time to visit is between January and March, when the weather there is temperate and not too humid.

Spend a chill day at the beach The beaches in Tobago are pristineyou cant go wrong making a pit stop at whatever beaches you spot in your area. The most popular is Mount Irvine Beach, adjacent to a golf course and known for its excellent surfing. Englishmans Bay is another good option, a crescent-shaped beach where you can spot leatherback turtles chilling on the sands. If youre looking for hidden treasure, drive 45 minutes up to Castara, a tiny but stunning spot with gorgeous views of the forests below.

Visit Pigeon Point Heritage Park This family-friendly enclave offers multiple activities in one spotthere are cute little shops, lots of great cafes for snacking, and a lifeguard-tended beach area, complete with a highly Instagrammable thatched-roof jetty.

Go around Buccoo Reef Book a glass-bottom boat from Pigeon Point Heritage Park, and you can spend a day going around Buccoo Reef, a designated marine park containing hundreds of colorful species of fish and coral (Jacques Cousteau named it the third most spectacular reef in the world). Theres loads to see, so its the ideal spot to go snorkeling. Make sure your boat makes a stop at the surreal Nylon Pool, a one-meter deep enclave in the middle of the reef whose sheer waters and white sand prompted Britains Princess Margaret to name the pool after her nylon stockings.

Hike through the Tobago Forest Reserve As the oldest protected forest reserve in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is the spot to go on a hike in Tobago. The main trek is short and accessible, weaving through a few miles of untouched forest. Its worth hiring a trained guide who can point out the various herbs, spices, and native fruit trees that are abundant throughout the trail. The hike ends at Argyle Falls, where you can lounge in natural rock tubs surrounded by idyllically green trees.

Doubles Truck Doubles Truck is what I am calling the unmarked white van that parks outside a clothing shop called Chadijas around lunchtime, serving up one of the signature dishes of the island: doubles. Its a messy dish of two interlocking pieces of fried dough filled with mildly sweet stewed chickpeas and a generous dousing of green chile sauce. Theyre wrapped in white paper and cost about 20 cents a pop. Wash yours down with fresh coconut water from the fruit stand a few feet away.

Kariwak Village A very vibe-y open-air restaurant with a thatched roof serving Caribbean food thats all made from the on-site garden. Get the spicy crab stew and be prepared to go home very satisfied, but with chile and turmeric stains all over your shirt.

Jemma's Seaview Kitchen Treehouse Located right on the beach, this picturesque spot specializes in seafood prepared Caribbean style: fish thats been breaded, fried, and dressed in a tangy sweet-and-sour sauce; curried goat; and shrimp drenched in herbs and garlic then grilled over an open fire.

La Tartaruga An Italian restaurant situated in a tall treehouse, La Tartaruga will easily be one of the most joyful dining experiences you have in Tobago. This is thanks, in large part, to the exceedingly friendly and enthusiastic chef/owner Gabriele, who treats every guest like a long-lost sibling. The restaurant serves excellent Italian wines and specialties like freshly made tagliatelle dressed in pesto and potatoes, and meatballs stuffed with polenta, mozzarella, and spicy tomato sauce. It is the perfect marriage of Italian food and the breezy culture of Tobago.

Skewers This is a local haunt for kebabs (the best are the lamb and the chicken), which are ideal for lunch and dinner to goor a late-night snack. The meats are grilled til exceedingly juicy, the herby salads are fresh and fragrant, and though the food is decidedly Middle Eastern, it has pleasant local toucheslike the various handcrafted hot sauces made with the fruity peppers of the region.

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A Travel Guide to Tobago, the Caribbean's Chillest Island | GQ - GQ Magazine

Miami Herald (blog)

Caribbean countries should be ashamed of supporting Venezuela at OAS meeting Miami Herald (blog) Here's the million-dollar question about the failure at this week's Organization of American States' meeting to strongly condemn Venezuela's autocratic regime: How could a few tiny Caribbean islands defeat a resolution that was backed by the United ... Caribbean Governments Slammed On Twitter For Venezuela Govt. Support At OASNews Americas Now Caribbean And Latin America Daily News all 59 news articles »

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Caribbean countries should be ashamed of supporting Venezuela at OAS meeting - Miami Herald (blog)

Charleston CariFest is an annual celebration of Caribbean American Heritage Month and this years featured country is Haiti, presented by South Carolina Caribbean Culture and Heritage Inc. The festival will honor Haitis Carnival, a major cultural event with music, dance, colorful costumes and more. All of the bases will be covered this weekend with activities for young, old and everyone in-between. Thursday will kick everything off with a symposium and opening reception. Keynote speaker Dr. Charlene Desir will introduce the history of Haiti with The Fighting Spirit of Our Ancestors.

The big festival events are on Saturday, beginning with a parade from the Charleston Museum at Meeting and John streets downtown, traveling down to King, Sumter, Hagood and Fishburne streets, ending at the Carnival Village at Brittlebank Park. This extravaganza will feature Caribbean food, costumes, games, vendors, a kiddie zone and dancing, with live music from reggae, soca (calypso), dancehall artists and more, as well as a performance from the Haitian Childrens Choir. An after-party will keep things going at Reggae Grill in North Charleston. Sundays All White Day Fete at Island Breeze on James Island will bring the celebration to a close.

WHEN: Symposium & Opening Reception: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 22; Parade: 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24; Carnival Village: 5-11 p.m. Saturday, June 24; All White Day Fete: Noon-5 p.m. Sunday, June 25

WHERE: Symposium & Opening Reception: College of Charleston School of Professional Studies, 3800 Paramount Drive, North Charleston; Parade: Charleston Museum to Brittlebank Park, downtown Charleston; Carnival Village, Brittlebank Park, 185 Lockwood Drive, downtown Charleston; After-Party (Saturday): Reggae Grill, 4226 Rivers Ave., North Charleston; All White Day Fete: Island Breeze, 2225 Mosquito Beach Road (off Sol Legare), James Island

PRICE: Free admission for opening reception and parade; Carnival Village: $10 general, free for ages under 12 years; After-Party: $10 general, $5 with carnival wrist-band; All White Day Fete: $10 general

MORE INFO: 843-557-6258, http://www.charlestoncarifest.com

Reach Liz Foster at 843-937-5581 and follow her on Twitter @TheDizzyLizzieB

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CariFest celebrates Haiti, Caribbean heritage all weekend - Charleston Post Courier

Home > Film > Talking Skull Returns To Disney Worlds Pirates Of The Caribbean Ride

Back in 2006, when Disney was refurbishing the famous Pirates of the Caribbean ride, one notable item was taken away. A talking skull which taunted visitors with dead men tell no tales as they braved going near Davy Jones locker is now back at the beginning of the ride. The skull says a few words and a flash of light (meant to be lightning) can be seen. The ride now offers ride photos, so this is where your photo will be taken on the ride. So if you time it right, you, too can have an excellent ride photo!

Back in 2009, WDWmagic.com had a bit of a discussion on why the Talking Skull had disappeared in the first place. While there was no definitive answer, consensus seemed to be that the Talking Skull was often broken anyway, and perhaps no longer work so well in the context of what was going on at that point in the ride, at that time. Disney Avenue has a spectacular account of the development and history of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, which first opened in 1967.

The talking skull in Pirates of the Caribbean has warned guests that Dead Men tell no tales millions of times over the years. The poor mayor has been dunked countless times (and still hasnt drowned). The auctioneer has been trying to unload the same plump young wench on the same six pirates hundreds of times a day, 365 days a year with no takers. And those same six pirates have been wanting the red ed without success for almost 50 years.

There have been numerous other changes to the ride over the years, including the loss of the talking parrot.

Thanks to WDW News Today for the video!

(Last Updated June 21, 2017 11:18 am )

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Talking Skull Returns To Disney World's Pirates Of The Caribbean Ride - Bleeding Cool News

Tropical Storm Cindy formed Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico, hovering south of Louisiana as it churned tides and spun bands of heavy, potentially flooding rain onto the central and eastern Gulf Coast.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a state of emergency because of the threat of torrential rains and other severe weather, including dangerous high tides and rip currents. Double red flags snapped in the wind on the public beach at Gulf Shores in her state, warning visitors to stay out of the pounding surf.

Workers on Grand Isle, a barrier island community south of New Orleans, worked to reinforce a rock levee protecting the island's vulnerable west side. Officials there decided against calling an evacuation but said in a statement that anyone who wanted to head for the mainland should do so as early as possible because water might eventually cover low-lying parts of the only route off the island.

The Louisiana National Guard dispatched high water vehicles and helicopters into flood-prone areas. The state said the Federal Emergency Management Agency was moving 125,000 meals and 200,000 liters of water into Louisiana.

Gov. John Bel Edwards said the advance notice of the storm gave officials time to put emergency plans in place. Louisiana was slammed with major flooding last summer from an unnamed storm that heavily damaged the Baton Rouge and Lafayette regions.

The third tropical storm of 2017, Cindy was stationary Tuesday afternoon but to resume moving and reach the northern Gulf Coast late Wednesday and rumble inland Thursday over western Louisiana and eastern Texas. Forecasters warned 6 to 9 inches (15-22 cms) of rain and up to 12 inches (30 cms) in spots was the biggest threat in parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.

Already some flooding was reported on Alabama's Dauphin Island and flood control locks and gates were being closed along Louisiana's bayou-marbled coast. Authorities in various coastal Louisiana and Mississippi communities handed out sandbags for areas along rivers and bayous.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Cindy was, on Tuesday afternoon, about 280 miles (450 kilometers) south of Morgan City, Louisiana or about 360 miles (575 kilometers) southeast of Galveston, Texas. It had top sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph).

A tropical storm warning was in effect from San Luis Pass, Texas, to the Pearl River's mouth along the Louisiana-Mississippi line.

Rain and tides, rather than wind, were considered the main danger from the system.

At a news conference in New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu urged vigilance as bands of rain from the system swept over the city. Forecasts said the system could dump from a few inches to more than 12 inches (a few centimeters to more than 25 cm), depending on Cindy's development and path. At worst, the storm could flood neighborhoods outside the city's levee system and cause flash flooding even in protected areas.

"This is going to be a very serious event," Landrieu said.

In coastal Louisiana's Terrebonne Parish, Kim Chauvin said the shrimp processing businesses she and her husband run helped put out the word Monday that shrimpers should return to port and unload their catch before flood control structures closed.

"We call them, we text them, we Facebook them, we Twitter, them. Any way we can get to them," she said.

Earl Eues, an emergency official in Terrebonne, said the closing of locks and flood gates began Monday and would be completed Tuesday evening,

Parishes along the coast made sandbags or sand and bags available to people who wanted to protect homes and businesses.

At the Escatawpa Hollow Campground in Alabama, near the Mississippi State line, owner Larry Godfrey was prepared for flooding that would add to the woes of a rainy spring.

"We've had so much rain, we haven't done any business in about eight weeks because of the rain," said Godfrey, whose campground typically hosts swimmers and boaters. He said the Escatawpa River, at 15 feet (4.5 meters), would typically be lower than 3 feet (1 meter) at this time of year.

While the northern Gulf Coast braced for Cindy, the southern Caribbean region was dealing with the aftermath of Tropical Storm Bret, which unleashed heavy flooding, knocked out power and ripped off several roofs in some areas of Trinidad &Tobago. Bret had degenerated into a tropical wave by Tuesday afternoon..

All airports in Trinidad & Tobago reopened later Tuesday, though public schools and many businesses remain closed.

Associated Press reporters Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans; Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jeff Amy in Jackson, Mississippi; and Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama, contributed to this story.

This version corrects the location of the Escatawpa Hollow Campground in Alabama.

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1 tropical storm churns in Gulf, 2nd disbands in Caribbean - ABC News

(Paul Grondahl/Special to the Times Union)

(Paul Grondahl/Special to the Times Union)

(Paul Grondahl/Special to the Times Union)

(Paul Grondahl/Special to the Times Union)

Preserving a Caribbean spirit, far from home

Albany

Their voices are easy on the ears.

As they spoke, their lilting inflections from Jamaica, Barbados, Haiti and Nevis crested and fell like waves on a shore.

But beneath the sunny and melodic sounds, a theme of the disorientation of diaspora emerged.

"For some of us, we call it living at the hyphen," said Wilma Waithe of Albany, a native of Barbados who retired from the state Health Department. "It can be difficult straddling cultures. That's why we like to come together for socializing because it's a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere."

"People from the Caribbean have a much different perspective because of their colonial histories," said Annette Johnson, a state worker born in Canada, whose grandmother was Haitian.

A dozen members of the Capital District of New York Caribbean American Cultural Association sat in a circle at the Albany Public Library at a recent meeting. They spoke about their efforts to build an organization that will forge a sense of community among a group of disparate islanders who sometimes feel disconnected.

The organization was formed two years ago by University at Albany faculty members Marcia Sutherland, associate professor of Africana Studies, and Glyne Griffith, associate professor and chair of English. Both are from Jamaica. They met at the Latham home of Sutherland, the group's president, and now have about 20 members, who range in age from their early 30s to late 60s.

Caribbean barbecue

What: Second annual barbecue of the Capital District of New York Caribbean American Cultural Association

When: Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Where: Six Mile Waterworks Park, 138 Fuller Road, Albany. Open to the public.

Contact: Marcia789@aol.com for more information.

Contact Paul Grondahl at grondahlpaul@gmail.com

They talked about growing up under the long shadow cast by British colonial rule a century after the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean, and the ongoing exploitation by sugar cane plantation owners.

"Resistance to colonialism is a central part of the Caribbean psychology," said Sutherland, who presented a research paper on Jamaica's black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Members often present talks on political and cultural heroes from their island nations.

Assimilation can be a challenge even after decades, they said, because they don't feel fully connected either to the American black experience or the culture of those who grew up on the African continent.

"I've gradually gotten used to the dual identity," said Patrick Romain, of Colonie, a native of Haiti, who is a counselor with the Educational Opportunity Program, or EOP, at UAlbany. "I go to Haiti and they see me as an American, but people here see me as a Haitian. Since I lived in the U.S. since I was young, I didn't learn much about my Haitian culture until I became an adult."

On Saturday, they will hold their second annual barbecue at Six Mile Waterworks Park in Albany, off Fuller Road. It coincides with Caribbean American Heritage Month. Their goal is to create a welcoming organization that appeals to the several thousand people of Caribbean heritage across the region.

They invite anyone interested in Caribbean culture to join them for a barbecue featuring spicy Jamaican jerk chicken and macaroni and cheese, which is called macaroni pie on Barbados. They'll brew batches of sorrel, made from boiling the dried sorrel flower into a tea. They add grated ginger, pimento berries, spices, sugar, lemon juice and rum. The drink varies among the islands. Some blend the spices with red wine, similar to sangria. There will be dancing to calypso, reggae and other popular Caribbean musical styles.

Getting together is an opportunity to share elements of their cultures, which vary widely from island to island. Growing up in Jamaica, Jacqueline Rowe of Niskayuna, a registered nurse and real estate agent, recalled that she used to boil dried hibiscus flowers in a tea and used it to lighten and color her hair.

"Hey, I need to try that," said Dalmain Duncan, who is from Jamaica, lives in Albany and works for the city water department. He also happens to be bald. Everyone laughed.

Members are beginning a fundraising drive to be able to provide a college scholarship to a high school senior of Caribbean heritage. The group also solicits donations for food baskets that are distributed at Thanksgiving to the less fortunate.

"Being part of this group gives me an opportunity to make a difference and to show young people a sense of cultural pride, no matter which island they come from," said Ainsley Thomas, who grew up in Jamaica and lives in Albany. He is chief diversity officer at Hudson Valley Community College.

Visiting family and friends back in the Caribbean is an eye-opener regarding standards of living. "They truly believe the streets here are paved with gold and you should be able to scoop up millions and bring it home," said Celia Rouse of Albany, a native of Barbados who is a Ph.D. candidate at UAlbany and works there as a STEM instructor.

"We like to socialize together, but we also focus on cultural identity and the history of the Caribbean diaspora. We learn from each other," said Etwin Bowman, of Albany, a native of Barbados who works as a UAlbany administrator and emigrated in 1985. "The hardest part was getting used to how huge America is. We refer to Barbados as just a big rock in the sea."

They take pride in celebrating notable Caribbean natives, such as reggae star Bob Marley and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt, both Jamaicans, and the late Nobel Prize-winning poet Derek Walcott of St. Lucia.

The smash Broadway musical "Hamilton" highlighted the fact that Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis. That thrilled Carol Tyrell, of Albany, who grew up in Nevis and now works for the state Health Department. "It's a very small island in the Leeward Islands. I always call it my paradise. And we have the best mangoes."

Paul Grondahl is the director of the New York State Writers Institute and a former Times Union reporter. He can be reached at grondahlpaul@gmail.com

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Preserving a Caribbean spirit, far from home - Albany Times Union

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Get a Taste of the Islands at the Caribbean Festival - Up & Coming Weekly