Candy Coated Wine UP Cruise Jamaica 2014

Jamaica carnival is indeed getting its life together.  More and more promoters and fete attendees are rolling into town and adding their special touch. 

Carnival Friday 2013 we had our own mini pool party at the Spanish Court Hotel because there was no was Friday afternoon fete, this year that all changed.  Candy Coated Events did a JA version of the Trinidad Wine Down cruise.   Without a doubt my favorite event for the 2014 Jamaica carnival weekend.
The Wine Up cruise started with a couple speed boats full of feters, booze and soca heading out to Maiden Cay.  Maiden Cay  is a small uninhabited island located off the coast of Port Royal, Kingston, Jamaica. It is little more than an elevated sandbar with sparse vegetation. It's a popular destination and rest spot for sunbathers, snorkelers and boaters / yachters, and it is also frequently used for day time beach parties. (www.maidencay.com)
We partied on and off the boats, the liquor never ran out, lunch was cooked fresh on the island and it was deeeeeelish Ribs, Fish & Jerked Chicken. 


As the video below shows, it was beautiful event with great vybz between all the attendees, even the other boats that just happened to be docked there.  We left with lots new friends.

Word on the sKReet is that Candy Coated Events is also doing a cruise for Cropover and Miami Carnival.

An Average Weekend in Atlanta






Often I have people ask me about ATL living, usually its people that are coming to visit and want to know “what is there to do?” I don’t blog about ATL often so I figured I would just give a quick recap of my previous weekend just to give those not in the know a general idea of how we gets down.  May I say that while it was an outstanding weekend, it wasn’t unusual.  Most weekends in Atlanta are jam packed full of awesomeness, there is always a festival, concert, exhibit, show, whatever going on. 
Let me start off with Fake Friday (or as the normal people call it “Thursday”)  Fake Friday’s usually either have include a happy hour after work or an evening out on the town.  This Fake Friday my daughter and I spent the evening at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, so no happy hour.  I purchased a half off coupon on Groupon (because I am the coupon, groupon, bargain shopping queen). Atlanta Botanical Garden is a 30 acres botanical garden. I adore flowers, especially tulips so I always enjoy a trip to the garden.  We must come back when Imaginary Worlds exhibit returns in May.  Word on the street is that they have 9 new characters so I can’t wait to come back and seem them. 





 
Atlanta Botanical Garden


On the way home from the garden, had to make a stop at the best liquor sto in town Greens.  Gotta stock pile booze for the weekend and Greens is the cheapest in town *YIPPEE*

My usual supply: rum, over proof rum & cheap champagne
Friday afternoon consisted of a run to the Dekalb Farmers Market after work to reup on the fruits, veggies, juices & berries.  I love that place, they have so many things from around the world that you can’t find in a regular supermarket.  A little taste of home right here in Atlanta.

 
Friday night it was off to the party on the Caribbean side of town (Decatur, Stone Mtn, Lithonia) to laugh and dance our lives away.  As always, it was good good times with my Caribbean peeps. 

Early Saturday afternoon it was a quick run around Stone Mountain (World's largest exposed granite monolith) www.stonemountainpark.com.  Ok I’m lying it took me 1 ½ hours to power walk/ jog the 4 miles around the damn mountain.  The reason I go there is because you can’t quit until you get your lazy azz around the mountain.  If I was on a treadmill I might stop after 2 miles, but here… NO SURRENDER!!! 

Late Saturday afternoon into evening the homies and I had a picnic at the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont park.  Potluck style with plenty of food, booze, music & good vibes.   Just lounged around for hours at the park for hours enjoying the beautiful weather and the company of good friends.  I couldn’t really tell you what the Dogwood festival consisted of cause I never left our lil spot.  I gave the teens some $$$ and they disappeared for a few hours to do “teen stuff.” There were live performances that we didn’t really pay attention to cause we blasted our Carib chunes instead; kiddie rides and art vendors???  



 


No time to powernap, Saturday evening we headed downtown to hang with a friend that was in town.  Went to Metro CafĂ© to enjoy some drinks & bad karaoke.  Even though we love karaoke we didn’t get on the mic, but I did enjoy the random songs that the others chose to sing.  Was talked into doing a shot of whiskey *YUK* and ended the evening at IHOP (so much for the lil calories I burned that morning).   


If you think the weekend fun is done, u are Oh So Wrong!!!  Sunday I was supposed to go to the Atlanta zoo with the fam, but that got rescheduled to May.  No worries, some friends and friends of friends were headed to the Atlanta Braves game so I joined them instead.  They were an extremely entertaining hot mess crew.  We hung out on the Chophouse patio drinking most of the game and only were in our seats for all of 30 minutes.  It was a very cool tempature day, the games in the blazing heat can be torture, even though Dudley got seats on the level with A/C just in case. Lolol  

 
We were taking pix and this guy appears in our pix, I’m thinking, “Who is he… whatever CHEESE!!!”  Everyone else was like, “Come on in guy, join us”  They are college football lovers and apparently he is the running back for the GA Bulldogs.  After they said his name I remembered Paco mentioned him before because his last name is Gurley and my family calls me Girly so I guess I’m supposed to be a fan by default???  iDunno
Their new BFF Todd Gurley

 
Hold your horses, the weekend isn’t quite done yet!!!  Sunday night was the finale of all finale’s. Stephen Marley was in town and that was just frekkin magical!  Before I sound like a crazy fan, lemme explain.  I listen to Bob Marley  almost daily, the Dei Musicale- Ruan Legend’s Ultimate Bob Marley podcast definitely has its moments on repeat.  I love Bob Marley, but honestly who doesn’t love Bob Marley?  In my humble opinion Stephen Marley sounds the most like his father.  He sang a couple of his father’s songs and it sent chills through my body, I felt like I was at a Bob Marley concert.  If you have ever seen video of Bob perform you can see many of the same mannerisms in their performances.  It was beautiful and of course he sang the Stephen Marley chunes that we all love as well, along with some new chunes.  It was a night to remember! 
 

"Irieness" was in the air


the girls w/ Stephen Marley & Gramps Morgan

Thank goodness for Reggae Loving friends
 
 

Music for every Race, creed, color
It was a beautiful weekend in the ATL, but I expect no less from my city!!!  Peace up, A-town down!!!  Lets do all this again in a few days! If you are coming to Atlanta and want to find summin to get into or if you are one of the many people that live here, but just dont venture out often, here are some useful links:

www.accessatlanta.com
www.atlantaonthecheap.com

Atlanta Carnival 2014 fetes list

Because I always have tons of visiting folks or those that live in ATL and just dont go out often ask me what/when/where/why/how regarding Atlanta Carnival, I decided to just put it all on one blog. I’ll update the blog with fetes as I come across em.


If you don’t already know, Atlanta has two carnivals. I know, I know… moving on, this is where everyone I know will be.
http://atlantacarnivalbc.com/
If you want to play mas in a costume or t-shirt all the bands can be found here http://atlantacarnivalbc.com/mas-bands/

I provided online ticket links for the ones I know, the others you just gotta google my friends J
Of course Kiddie Carnival is the event that kicks off carnival.  Gotta pass down the love of carnival to the next generation of West Indian people.
 
This fete right here *WHEW* I booked a hotel within walking distance of Cooler Fete this year because SH*T GOT REAL last year. I know its gonna be realer than real deal Holyfield this year.  I am prepared!!!
 
 
 
I Am Soca: 2014 Groovy Soca Monarch winner Kerwin Dubois performing alongside the gentleman who sings my 2014 anthem: 5 Star Akil - To Meh Heart

Dawn Breakfast Party

 I’m not a fan of seeing naked chix, but I image everyone had a blast last year.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the Miami Carnival Red Eye Fete when it was held at King of Diamonds “adult entertainment club” so I suppose this is the same concept.
If you know me you know I LIVE for Jouvert.  I love love love it.  Can we get Caesar’s Army to roll through so that we can have 2 jouverts???
http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-atlanta-carnival-outdoor-jouvert-tickets-10084712647?aff=eorg 
GBM Showcase:  Great line up for a great price, can’t beat that price in my book. 

Not sure why this one is called "jouvert" because its not truely a jouvert.
Its a nice concert none the less. 
http://www.2014atlantajouvert.eventbrite.com/

Carnival Saturday +Underground Atlanta 
 
The PXP International Experience, is where you will find African chunes thrown into the mix. Not just one or two old African chunes, a serious up to date African set or two or three. 
Lawd lawd lawd I love Benjai (not like "that" I luv his music)! As many carnivals as I go to, Benjai is one of the few artists that I have rarely seen live.  I think I have only seen Benjai live once, maybe twice (blame the rum for my failed memory).
 
 
 

Who doesn’t love a good Breakfast Fete??? I learned my lesson last year. I’m going home to take a quick power nap after the Saturday night fete or MAYBE I will just keep my tail in bed Saturday nite and then fete the morning & afternoon away Sunday!!!http://sundaymorningbreakfastparty.com/

Boat Ride you say???  Can’t wait to hear more about this one, I love being on the water.
 
 

That's all folks, feel free to link the people below if you have questions.
 
See you on the road Mar 24th!!! I'll be the gyal taking a nap under a tree!!!