MACO Caribbean Living

Editor's note - Water sports and heart stoppers

2008-10-02T14:50:00.002-04:00

There are many reasons you should visit the Caribbean and Central America: the warmth of the people, (biased I may be, but we are truly wonderful); the luxurious, romantic resorts, such as the gorgeous Florblanca in Costa Rica, featured on page 18 (of the current issue of Destinations) and the quaint Jamaica Inn on page 30; jungle adventures; and thrilling water and wind sports.

And I am game for it all. My latest adventure was on water. Having recuperated from the Stanford Antigua Sailing Regatta, I think it appropriate to warn those faint of heart to stay away and to encourage the thrill seekers to participate.

I went innocently to the Antigua Sailing Regatta to support the team on Enzyme, a 35-foot Henderson sponsored by MACO Destinations. The island was buzzing with excitement and the showcase of yachts in the numerous marinas across Antigua was breathtaking.

Antigua Sail Week is regarded as one of the most challenging regattas in the world, with nearly 100 individual prizes being awarded to 38 separate categories. The start of the single race I was allowed to crew on began with a cacophony of shouts and frantic hand waving from crew members warning off their rivals as too many boats seemed to be trying to cross the start line, all at the same time. For the seasoned crew of Enzyme, it was all in a day’s work. For me, it was heart stopping and absolutely exhilarating. The wind was strong and the competition fierce. Soon, we were on our own, away from our rivals.

Après sailing was as much fun as the regatta itself with nightly events and parties. Mingled with the diehard racers, some of them world champions, were spectators and locals, talking about the race they had witnessed that day either from boat or land.

Five grueling days of racing combined with six nights of boisterous partying left me exhausted and needing a good vacation, possibly at one of the resorts featured in this magazine.

My editor’s pick for May 2009 – Antigua Sail Week.

Don’t forget our fabulous Fowl Cay private island getaway competition. It’s a chance of a lifetime to live it up like the rich and famous and be one of the first guests at this stunning resort.

Happy reading!

Neysha Soodeen

MACO Editor-in-Chief

www.macomag.com

New Destinations - find new hotspots in Central America and the Caribbean

2008-09-29T07:58:00.002-04:00

The new issue of Destinations is now available in bookstores, and we’ve got lots of great locations in the Caribbean and Central America to show you. Check out the glam beach bar in Barbados, the hideaway at Petit St Vincent, Antigua Sailing Week, Midnight Carnival in Trinidad, the Hilton Papagayo Resort in Costa Rica, and much more at http://macomag.com/current_issue_destinations.htm.

And don't forget you can still enter the Castaway Contest to win yourself an all-inclusive, six-day trip to Fowl Cay, Bahamas. For more info visit http://www.macocaribbean.com/2008/03/win-six-day-trip-to-fowl-cay-bahamas.html

Happy reading!

www.macomag.com

Crane Resort set for expansion

2008-09-13T16:03:00.004-04:00

Having one of the sexiest beaches in the world, hasn't stopped The Crane Resort in Barbados from trying to up its appeal. With a completion date set for early next year, the resort will be adding 80 new rooms, and other new facilities including the Crane Village, designed to resemble an 18th-century Bajan town, tennis courts, an Italian restaurant, a coffee shop and bakery, a jazz bar, a fitness center, a full-service spa and a conference centre.

To keep up with the developments, you can visit the Crane's new blog, http://blog.thecrane.com/

To check out more from MACO Magazines, visit http://www.macomag.com/

MACO features the Caribbean on two new Travel Channel shows

2008-08-11T20:11:00.003-04:00

When MACO Magazines was first started, the aim was to showcase the Caribbean. We wanted to show that you don’t have to look outside of the region to find beautiful homes, resorts, or travel experiences. There are so many exotic places that many of us haven’t seen, and you know what… we should.

It’s been nine years now since we’ve started the MACO line of publications, and we can happily say that we’ve achieved that dream and more. Recently, our Editor-in-Chief Neysha Soodeen appeared on the Travel Channel’s special for the world’s 21 sexiest beaches, championing the beauty of seven of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches.

Bearing on the heels of this comes some more exciting news. Neysha has been chosen by New York television production company, City Lights Television, to work with them on two series to be aired on the Travel Channel later this year, and another currently being aired. The producers were so impressed with Neysha’s performance on 21 sexiest beaches that she was kept on and will be a presenter for two other shows, “21 Hottest Bars in the World” and “21 Greatest Escapes of the Caribbean.”

“To have an entire show dedicated to the Caribbean would not only promote the islands as a destination, but also gives me the unique opportunity to include some of MACO’s top advertisers such as new real estate developments and hotels,” says Neysha. “The show also gives me the opportunity to showcase islands which would not normally be featured on a travel show such as Trinidad, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Grenada.”

The producers found us after purchasing a copy of MACO Destinations at a Barnes & Noble store in New York. How fairy tale-ish is that? This is another great opportunity to advance Caribbean tourism, and we feel blessed to be able to keep meeting our objective. MACO’s aim has always been to showcase the Caribbean on a world stage, and the Travel Channel series featuring Caribbean destinations provides “incredible PR” for the region in these trying times.

Dylan Edgar, who works with City Lights Television, says Neysha has been a wonderful asset to the show’s cast and a source of helpful information, adding a lot to the content of the programme. He described The Travel Channel as the single most popular and best resource for the American viewing audience to get both inspirational and concrete information about planning trips. We’re just glad that to help out. Go Neysh!

To check out more of MACO magazines, visit www.macomag.com

Say “Ommmm” with Ceiba Del Mar’s Yoga Retreat

2008-08-07T09:57:00.003-04:00

Luxury spa & beach resort offers special yoga package for all skill levels to rejuvenate, revitalize the body, brain and spirit

Puerto Morelos, Riviera Maya, Mexico – Ceiba del Mar, a luxury beach & spa resort located just 20 minutes from Cancun Airport, is pleased to announce its exclusive Yoga Retreat this fall. The program will be led by certified Yoga professional Rhonda Sesto, owner of BuddhabellyYoga, and will be offered for either a four-day or seven-day session. The 4- or 7-day Yoga Retreat will be offered the week of October 25-November 1, 2008, and will be limited to just 15 participants in order to ensure individualized attention by the instructor.

Calling all yoga lovers

The retreat will be open to participants of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned Yoga buffs. Restorative daily Yoga sessions will be combined with plenty of opportunity for rest, recreation, and enjoyment of Ceiba del Mar’s unspoiled white beaches, relaxing Caribbean waters and stunning natural landscape, as well as the resort’s unique holistic spa.

Retreat package
Ideally situated on a stretch of secluded powder-sand beach at the edge of a picturesque fishing village, Ceiba Del Mar offers an ambiance of luxury and comfort, suites with ocean views, beautiful Mexican and Mayan architecture and unparalleled service and amenities – the perfect setting for a Yoga retreat. The Retreat includes:

- 7 days/6 nights or 4 days/3 nights in selected luxury accommodations;
- Daily morning and afternoon Yoga and meditation sessions with instructor Rhonda Sesto, including all yoga mats and props;
- All meals and drinks, including taxes and gratuities;- A $100 credit for spa services;- Round-trip airport transportation;
- Access to gym, whirlpool, steam room, sauna, kayaking, snorkeling equipment and bicycles;
- In-suite organic bath amenities.

The 7-day Yoga Retreat is priced at $1612 USD for single occupancy, or at $1412 USD/per person for double occupancy. The 4-day Yoga Retreat is priced at $833.00 per person for double occupancy and US$1,033.00 for single occupancy. A 50% deposit is required to ensure participation by September 15, 2008.

A typical day at the Yoga Retreat would begin with breakfast served in the room, followed by a Yoga session on the pier overlooking the ocean. Breakfast will also be available afterward, followed by meditation on the sundeck or pier. Lunch is next, followed by afternoon free-time for pursuit of other activities, whether simply relaxing by the pool, indulging in spa treatments, snorkeling or kayaking, sightseeing or biking. In the late afternoon, a Yoga/Pranayama (breath work) session will be held on the sundeck or pier, followed by Restorative Yoga in the resort’s Yoga Room with a light healthy snack.

Each day culminates with a group dinner, the perfect opportunity to socialize, relax and reflect on the day. All activities are optional – choose to participate in all or just some of the Yoga sessions, depending on your desires.

About Rhonda Sesto
Yoga instructor Rhonda Sesto has nearly 10 years teaching experience and is a Certified Restorative Yoga Teacher. Through her business, BuddhabellyYoga, Rhonda has private clients as well as working as an instructor for classes at various locations including White Oaks Resort & Spa at Niagara-on-the-Lake, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of St. Catharine, and a number of Yoga Studios in Niagara. Rhonda’s philosophy is to “honor the body, mind and spirit” in teaching her students, and guides students with compassion and detailed instruction to support their Yoga practice.

Fabulous amenities
As you relax and unwind during the Yoga Retreat at Ceiba del Mar, you’ll enjoy the fabulous amenities which include private balcony or terrace, international cable TV and DVD/CD player, enhanced turn-down service, cotton robes and slippers, twice-daily maid service, mini-bar, ceiling fans, and exclusive bath amenities.

For additional information on Ceiba Del Mar Beach & Spa Resort, or to book the Yoga Retreat, please visit the website at www.ceibadelmar.com or call 1-877-545-6221.

Textures and styles of Caribbean interior design

2008-07-22T16:08:00.005-04:00

Texture: noun. The surface characteristic of a fabric, the basic nature of something; the structure, form of a work of art.

This issue of MACO Caribbean Living is filled with texture – from fine custom furnishings of Miami restaurants to the crumbling facades of Old Havana to the gleaming wood and glass of a giga-yacht.

Interior designer Alison Antrobus (page 48) is a master of incorporating texture into design and in contrasting the light and delicate with the strong and vibrant. With spectacular projects under her belt such as Prime One Twelve and Badrutt’s Place in Miami, Antrobus is a leading name in the design business.

Renowned architect Oscar Imbert from the Dominican Republic is famous for melding the vernacular with modern functionality. His melange of textures and styles is seen in “The Real Oscar Award” on page 22, showcasing a combination of thatch, palm and metal work.

My friend Ian invited me aboard his giga-yacht Sherakhan which is a designer’s palace. The inlaid wooden floors and the glass staircase are glorious, the attention to detail pure genius. The materials chosen for the floors and ceilings compel one to caress each surface and just about groan with pleasure.

One of my favourite features in this issue is on page 60. Juliet’s Barclay’s eye for texture has inspired “Feast for the Senses”, which celebrates the beauty in rusting doors, peeling walls, worn cobbles and crumbling plaster. Cuba itself provides a backdrop rich in tone and texture, from the fishing boats on the seashore to the torrential rains to even the dust of history.

Each page of this issue has the “wow” factor. Let your senses be titillated as you linger over the pages. Have a sensual experience.

Happy reading,
Neysha Soodeen

MACO Editor-in-Chief

Safety tips for summer travel

2008-07-14T09:02:00.006-04:00

Summer is always a peak season for travel, and while the joy of going off on vacation, visiting beautiful locations, and great shopping preoccupy a large percentage of your mind, it’s also extremely important to pay attention to your safety.

Travel Rants, a blog we recently discovered, and published by Darren Cronian, has started a series on safety when travelling. Regardless of whether you’re travelling to the Caribbean, Central America, the US, Dubai or Europe, these basic tips from Darren are a good start to ensuring a safe and enjoyable trip.

1. Try to blend in wherever you’re going by paying attention to local customs in clothing and action.

2. Carry your wallet as you usually do, but put the most of your money somewhere else.

3. Don’t trust fellow travellers or the hotel staff with your belongings. Lock them up yourself.

4. Stay relatively sober when you’re out and don’t accept drinks from strangers.

5. Remain aware of your surroundings at all times.

Travelling solo?
The thought of travelling alone scares some people, but we know a few people well who often travel solo, and really do have fun by themselves. Darren also has some great tips for you, and believe us, they’re applicable regardless of gender.

MACO Magazines.

Destinations: Summer travel to the Caribbean and Central America

2008-07-05T13:19:00.002-04:00

I have always associated summer travel with adventure. But the thought of leaving winter to go on an adventure trip to the tropics never seemed right. Winter travellers usually have three things on their minds – SUN, SEA and SAND.

Time to chase away those stereotypes! This region is more complex, intriguing, dynamic and diverse than any paperback or postcard can tell.

With summer fast approaching, those who wish to take a walk on the wild side do not have to do it with a backpack. The Caribbean and Central America have perfected the art of luxury adventure. Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort in Costa Rica, featured on page 52 of this new issue of Destinations, is situated in the middle of the rainforest and next to a majestic volcano and hot springs. The hotel is a boutique, five-star property with a spectacular spa, gorgeous rooms and adventure right outside your door – white water rafting, canyoning, canopy tours, rainforest sky treks and hiking to the volcano and La Fortuna waterfall. Maruba Resort Jungle Spa in Belize is also a fabulous example of luxury meeting adventure, with tribal chic rooms and a spa, which will leave you rejuvenated after a tough day out in the jungle.

For you bird lovers, botanists and naturalists, the island of Trinidad, which is the most southern in the Caribbean chain has about 400 types of birds, 97 native mammals, 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians, 617 butterflies, as well as over 2,200 species of flowering plants. At the Asa Wright sanctuary, once can experience rare and beautiful displays of dancing birds, and stay for next to nothing. Me? I am a water baby and kiteboarding in the Bahamas, featured on page 90, is something I would pick and do in a second.

My favourite adventure these days, however, is sailing on the MACO-sponsored Enzyme boat, which is co-sponsored by BMobile and Blackberry. I recently was convinced by the crew to race with them in Grenada where I sustained my first sailing injury. Thankfully, the crew kept me pain-free with copious amounts of Angostura rum. At the end of the day, we placed first in class and first overall.

It truly was an invigorating experience with some serious competition, and as I write this note, I look forward to the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week in April and the Mount Gay Regatta in Barbados in May.

So pack a small bag, book a flight and fill your summer with some excitement.

Happy travelling!

Neysha
MACO Editor-in-Chief

www.macomag.com

Caribbean rum - heritage and provenance

2008-06-23T11:48:00.003-04:00

Some of the best rums come from the Caribbean, and with the growing popularity of our region's finest brands in markets such as the UK, Spain, and Italy, the St. Lucia Food and Rum Festival is now the greatest showcase for the region's finest brands. It's also a top pick for culinary trekkers to the Caribbean.

Check out a full review of last year's event in MACO's Destinations magazine.

Jamaica’s Pepsi Portland Jerk Festival

2008-06-17T12:30:00.002-04:00

Cooked thoroughly in seasoned meat, spiced with pepper, and smoked on pimento sticks, jerk – a traditional Jamaican art of cooking – will always be known as Jamaica’s trademark, world-famous dish. Foodies, especially those who love jerk, are gearing up for the Pepsi Portland Jerk Festival, which will take place from July 4–6, 2008 at the Folly Estate, Boston Beach, and Frenchman’s Cove in the resort area of Port Antonio, in the parish of Portland.

The Festival kicks off July 4 with the official opening and Children’s Fun Day at the Boston Playing Field, with activities running from noon to 6 p.m. On the Saturday, Frenchman’s Cove will be the venue for an all-inclusive beach party. Patrons will be treated to some of the best cuisine from Portland’s leading chefs, and rock to the rhythms of Renaissance Disco and the party vibes of DJ Kurt Riley. Veteran Jamaican musicians Byron Lee and the Dragonnaires will perform, as well as singers Sanchez and Peter Lloyd. They will be joined on stage by a number of popular younger artistes including Christopher Martin, Noddy Virtue and D’Angel, in addition to many of Portland’s best talent.

Jerk Lobster, jerk conch, jerk sausage, jerk pork and jerk chicken, and traditional side dishes such as rice and peas, festival, breadfruit and yam, will be served. This year the event will feature more than 25 stalls showcasing the best jerked foods available on the island.

Click the links below to get great recipes for jerk in the Recipes and Restaurants Section of our main website.
- Jerk chicken
- Jerk-roasted suckling pig
- Jerk chicken wrap
- Jerk lobster

- Jerk rub

To check out more from MACO Magazines, visit www.macomag.com.

St Lucia Carnival 2008 - July 18-22

2008-06-12T16:28:00.004-04:00

If you want to enjoy a Caribbean Carnival, there are many to choose from. So, we’ve decided to give you a sneak peek to some, starting with St Lucia’s Carnival. Fellow blogger, Nyree Figueroa, from the Sweet 7 blog, kindly took up our offer to write a guest post about it. After all, who better to write about St. Lucia’s Carnival than a Lucian? Thanks Nyree!

Here goes:

St. Lucia Carnival usually begins in June with the calypso season and the highlight of the celebration will take place July 18 to 22, 2008, ending with a grand parade through the city of Castries on the Tuesday.

Years ago, the St. Lucia government made a decision to change the date of Carnival from the pre-Lenten season in February to the summer month of July. The move to July meant more visitors and the island would not have to compete with Trinidad and Tobago. The goal was also to attract more people to St. Lucia to participate in the revelry. As a result of the move, participation from the other Caribbean islands has grown, especially with visitor arrivals from the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. The new date is great timing too, for students returning home for the summer.

As a result, new "bikini and beads" bands have also been created. Bands such as Red International and Just 4 Fun are popular among 30-somethings and even younger revellers. This year, due to the overwhelming response, Just 4 Fun was sold out within four weeks of its band launching, which was held at the end of April. The "bikini and beads" bands launch earlier than most, offering online registration and all-inclusive party incentives ranging from fetes throughout the Carnival season to free drinks and security on the road. For 2008, newer bands have introduced theme songs. A record eleven Carnival bands are registered to participate, emphasizing the marketing taglines, "St. Lucia Carnival 2KGreat" and "A Bigger and Better Carnival!" Three new bands hit the roads this year, Mosaic…HD. Atlantis and Toxik Carnival Band. Back for another year are St. Lucian Spirit, XS Energy, Red International, Just 4 Fun, Cozy Guzzlers, Mas Action and Rituals Carnival Band.

Nevertheless, "bikini and beads" bands have caused major concern for die-hard Carnival artisans who believe that the artistry and originality of the festival are being compromised.

St. Lucia 2008 is pulsating through the spirit of our people, and revellers are excited; no doubt some can’t wait to take the bacchanal to the streets accompanied by DJ Sir Lancelot's "My Band is De Best". The music this year is great. With the recent success of Ricky T's 2007 hit soca single "Pressure Boom", both regionally and internationally, St. Lucia boasts of a higher quality of music from artistes and local producers, and calypso veterans such as "De Invader" and "Ashanti" have returned.

Revellers can expect a longer parade route, due to the increase in the number of Carnival bands. The proposed Carnival route starts from the outskirts of Castries by the Caribbean Cinemas parking lot, heading past the Castries market and then continues through the streets of the city of Castries and back to the initial starting point. Last Sunday, thirty revellers got up at five in the morning for their first in a series of 'Walk the Route' for Carnival. So if you want to get your body in shape for Carnival, this is a great exercise option.

With July right around the corner, the fever is high for St. Lucia’s Carnival. Let’s see if you get the “socaritis” too.

Trinidad Carnival - dates for a decade of revelry

2008-06-09T17:08:00.000-04:00

Trinidad’s Carnival. It’s a festival that is always on people’s man regardless of the time of the year, and for those Carnival lovers who are forever concerned about booking their tickets in time, reserving costumes with their favourite bands, and gathering their crew, the first questions is, what’s the date for next year Carnival?

Well, we’ve got the dates for Carnival 2009 to 2019. So check it out, and let us know if you’ll be joining us MACO girls on the road.

2009 - February 23 & 24
2010 - February 15 & 16
2011 - March 7 & 8
2012 - February 20 & 21
2013 - February 11 & 12
2014 - March 3 & 4
2015 - February 16 & 17
2016 - February 8 & 9
2017 - February 27 & 28
2018 - February 12 & 13
2019 - March 4 & 5

Other Caribbean Carnivals are being held throughout the rest of 2008, so stay tuned for more information.

New underwater sculpture park in Grenada

2008-06-02T16:02:00.006-04:00

Photography courtesy Jason De Caires Taylor

Nature can be the most violent of aggressors, but sometimes it can also be a muse for great art. In Grenada, recent hurricanes and tropical storms battered the island, inevitably damaging some of the country’s reefs.

Shocked by the damage to the reefs, British sculptor and diver Jason de Caires Taylor, 33, was moved to give nature a helping hand by installing an artificial reef on the sea bed at Molinere Bay just north of Grenada’s capital, St George’s to provide a habitat for marine life and to allow coral to grow and develop naturally. Some call the park eerie, some fantastic. In the current issue of MACO Destinations, Sally Maton visits the new underwater sculpture park, and tells us: “There is nothing theme park or Disney about this place. You have to interact with it and go and find the sculptures yourself, which all adds to the adventure.”

It’s a great adventure for those who love the thrill of being underwater. To get there, you can walk from Dragon Bay and follow the footpath south along the rocky headland to the beach, but ask the local people to make sure you stay on the right track. The easiest way is by dive boat. If you arrive in your own dinghy, you can pick up a mooring line but they belong to local dive companies; be prepared to move if requested.

Click this link to visit macomag.com to read the entire article.

MACO Caribbean Homes Coffee Table Book - 20 beautiful Caribbean homes

2008-05-29T10:23:00.004-04:00

The MACO Caribbean Homes collector’s edition coffee-table book is a 11” x 12” hard cover boo, which contains 170 pages filled with glossy photography of 20 beautiful Caribbean homes. These homes range from grand coral stone mansions of Barbados to the artsy cottages in St. Lucia. Then there's the expert, historic architecture in Curacao and contemporary villas in Tobago. Take in fully restored Jamaican great houses and a St. Barth benkirai teak beach house.

Each home is unique; each home blends the past and present to create a structure of timeless beauty. This book is the epitome of what MACO has come to mean in the Caribbean – premium beauty and style.

This unique collector’s item is available at US$55 with part proceeds going to MACO’s favourite charity, the Cancer Society of Trinidad and Tobago. Aside from it being a great gift and an interesting read, when you purchase the MACO Caribbean Homes collector’s edition coffee-table book you can be a part of our commitment and support to the ongoing research in finding a cure for cancer.

To place your order or to make further inquiries, you can:
Call 1 868 622 0519
Email coffeetablesales@macomag.com
Subscribe online at http://www.macomag.com/subscribe.htm

Going green - Building an environment-friendly home in the Caribbean

2008-05-26T10:49:00.002-04:00

Photography courtesy OBM

About two weeks ago, the 12th Annual Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC) was hosted in Port of Spain, Trinidad at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad Hotel and Conference Centre. “Going Green”, something on the minds of forward-looking developers, was the running theme this year.

In the current issue of MACO Caribbean Living, we take a look at how you can go green when decorating your home, so that you too can be environmentally conscious and elegant in creating a charming ambience. In the article “Greening with style”, interior designer Melanie Wuilliez tells homeowners how they can save the environment without scrimping on style. Nowadays, there are many options available for greening your home. Environmentally friendly materials are the mode of the day.

In the Caribbean, owners tend to gravitate toward tile and/ or wood. Tile made of natural stones help to keep a cool temperature in the home, reducing the need for air-conditioning. Wuilliez says that in the Caribbean, the preferred wood is mahogany, but bamboo, purpleheart and andiroba are now popular choices for flooring. Using regional woods not only reduce costs, but they also reduce pollution indirectly, since less transportation is required than when exporting materials from distant locations. But wood and tile aren’t the only options for flooring. Concrete is also a great, and widely used option.

Wuilliez also gives some great tips for lighting, windows, and energy-saving equipment. Click this link to read her entire article over at MACO’s website.

A Taste of Mustique spices up Caribbean cuisine

2008-05-24T15:32:00.005-04:00

Caribbean cuisine. Food and flavours. And Kevin Snook. They all have on thing in common; they tend to capture the essence of Mustique.

In his new book, A Taste of Mustique, Snook, a professional chef and restaurateur – with Elizabeth Penniman – a writer and editor – captures the favourite dishes and flavours of Mustique – one of the most exclusive and remote vacation spots in the world. Featuring a foreword by Mick Jagger – yes that Mick Jagger – A Taste of Mustique gives you over 100 recipes that are easily transferred from the mastery of a top chef to your kitchen counter. Equally tempting as the recipes it accompanies, Sophie Munro’s photography makes the cookbook a visual gastronomic heaven that is sure to get your taste buds singing praises.

According to Charlotte Courtenay, who provides an insightful review of the book in the current issue of the MACO Caribbean Living magazine, “A Taste of Mustique not only brings us mouth-watering recipes – but also brings to the reader a broader story of the working people, homeowners, and visitors who make the island tick”. Certainly, it is a welcome addition to literature on Caribbean cuisine.

Snook’s inspiration for the book developed after he had cooked and taught in many Mustique homes for nearly a decade, following years spent in Europe and Canada honing his skills. His expertise came from those who know Mustique’s cuisine best, local cooks and fishermen.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of A Taste of Mustique will go to benefit the Environmental Committee of Mustique in an effort to preserve the flora and fauna indigenous to the island. You can take a peek inside over at Amazon.com or download 15 glorious pages of the book from the publisher Macmillan Caribbean.

For more from MACO magazines, visit http://www.macomag.com/.

June fun - Cricket and music in St Kitts

2008-05-23T08:54:00.004-04:00

We know how it goes sometimes. You think, okay let me head to the Caribbean for a fabulous vacation. In the midst of planning your well-deserved trip, you’re also thinking, “what can I do?”.

That’s why here at the MACO Caribbean living blog we not only focus on beautiful Caribbean architecture, cuisine, or enchanting destinations. We also let you know about some of the bext events the Caribbean offers.

Music festivals are always taking place throughout the year (click this link for a listing of major festivals), and June is no different. From the 26th-28th, St Kitts will host its annual St Kitts Music Festival, where you’ll be treated to the sounds of John Legend, Mario, Kassav and Billy Ocean, among other artistes.

And if you’re thinking that the Fourth of July is only about fireworks, think again. Think cricket. International Cricket takes precedence on this weekend – July 4th and 6th – when West Indies comes up against Australia. So take your pick of two great weekends in St Kitts. For more information, visit http://www.stkittstourism.kn/.

To check out MACO magazines, visit http://www.macomag.com/

Private islands and great escapes

2008-05-21T09:21:00.005-04:00

Just imagine - you and yours arriving at a private 50-acre tropical island embracing only six splendidly outfitted, fully stocked villas amongst secluded coves and stark white-sand beaches touched by waters that display every conceivable shade of blue.

Now imagine spending seven sun-kissed days there, strolling along deserted paths that wind charmingly through the isle’s luscious vegetation and fragrantly blossoming tropical flowers or swinging on a hammock enjoying the view which would ruin any other for the rest of your life. Well, you’re in luck! Flip quickly to the Bahamian chain of the Exumas (on page 28 of the current issue of Destinations magazine) and then fill out and send in our subscription card. The Castaway Contest is a chance to win your seven-day stay for a little taste of how you really should be spending one week every year.

For those not interested in private islands and secluded beaches but who need a great escape, The House in Barbados (featured on page 88 of the current issue of Destinations magazine) should certainly be considered. Next to the world-famous Daphne’s restaurant and on one of the island’s most spectacular beaches, this trendy hotel will cater to your every whim and desire with a personal butler service per room. Come on now: if the private island thing does not tickle your fancy, private butlers on the beach should.

And to change the mood slightly, MACO writer Sharon Millar had the most treacherous assignment of touring the twin-island state of St Kitts and Nevis, which is home to some of the world’s best-kept Plantation Inns. Without a doubt, a stay at one of these magnificent properties will transport you back to the days when rum was our biggest export, battles were fought over our tropical wealth, and fortunes were made and lost in swashbucking drama.

So while you are wrapped up on your woolly sweater, add a little sunshine to your day and a little warmth to your night with some heat from Destinations’ pages.

Neysha,

Editor-in-Chief

Destinations and MACO Caribbean Living

Subscribers in for a treat with new MACO magazines

2008-05-14T14:23:00.001-04:00

Dear MACOnians,

This is just a short note to explain what is actually happening with MACO and the launch of our new culinary publication.

MACO Caribbean Living will remain the same gorgeous publication it is. In issues to come, however, there will be a stronger focus on architecture and real estate developments, and less of an entertaining section. The new culinary publication, aptly titled ‘Food & Rum’ will focus on tropical cuisine and rums from around the world.

All subscriptions to MACO will remain the same, with no change.

All subscribers to MACO Caribbean Living and Destinations magazine WILL receive a complimentary copy of Food & Rum in 2009 when it is launched.

If you are anxious for a new publication from us this year, well HOLD YOUR BREATH! We will be launching the HOTTEST magazine which has ever hit the Caribbean in September 2008. You, might even be in it, so grab a copy as soon as it is launched and MACO some people!

Cheers,

Neysha

Editor-in-Chief, MACO Caribbean Living and Destinations

New venue for St Lucia Food and Rum Festival

2008-05-01T11:48:00.004-04:00

So picture this… a foodie’s heaven – the annual St Lucia Food and Rum Festival.

World-class chefs serve delectable goodies in demonstration kitchens, and the smell of rich, Caribbean rums penetrates the air, and that’s just the day-time. In the night, you can visit restaurants, which serve you full-course dinners from some of the best international chefs – from abroad and the Caribbean. Add some visits to beautiful sites and attractions in St. Lucia, plus jamming concerts and street parties, lovely, fun-loving people from all over the world, and well you couldn’t ask for anything better.

The St. Lucia Food and Rum Festival is back on the radar for one of the top things to do during October-November. Kicking off from October 30 through November 2, 2008, the organisers are planning a “bigger and better” festival for patrons. And when they say bigger, they mean bigger.

According to our trusty Editor-in-Chief, Neysha Soodeen, who conceptualised the festival and is a co-producer for the event, the search is on for a new venue for the Food and Rum Festival. Why? The festival, which started in 2006, has been growing, and the venue at Rodney Bay Village has become too small.

“We’ve just started preparations for this year’s show and I am happy to announce that we almost have a 100 percent participation return from our rum sponsors,” says Neysha. “We’re therefore looking at almost doubling the size of the festival this year.

“As a result, we may not be able to keep it in the Rodney Bay area. We’re looking for an alternative venue but this will have to be determined by the St. Lucia Tourist Board (producers of the festival),” she said.

The festival has been a success in that every year it has been able to attract more sponsors, and more international journalists are intent on sampling this tasty event. According to Neysha, Pigeon Island is a possible venue for this year’s festival, but ideally Rodney Bay is where she’d love to see it stay. Neysha just loves the vibe the village produces and the inclusion of the many restaurants and bars. In addition the free entertainment on the street in Rodney Bay last year was a huge success.

MACO to launch new architecture and food and rum magazines

2008-04-29T09:56:00.003-04:00

Guess what! We’re extending the MACO magazine family.

For the past ten years, we’ve been showcasing Caribbean architecture and interior design in our flagship magazine MACO Caribbean Living, and we’ve had a blast doing this. Documenting the progress of Caribbean architecture and interior design is important. It is one way of recording, studying and enjoying our development as a region. It speaks to our history, culture, lifestyle and all that makes us unique. It also showcases the creativity of architects and interior designers who not only design outside the colonial box in the Caribbean, but also fuse a number of eras and cultural influences to form a modern-day style of their own.

Extending the MACO family really is a natural progression. We started MACO Caribbean Living in 1999, and the magazine grew to include a Caribbean Entertainment section and a Destinations section. In 2005, we launched the Destinations magazine, and MACO Caribbean Homes and the MACO Caribbean Interiors Sourcebook.

This year marks a new era. Our next issue of MACO Caribbean Living will be the last of its kind, and in September you will bear witness to the new MACO Caribbean Architecture, devoted solely to Caribbean architecture, design, furniture, gardens, and real estate.

Have no fear gourmands; in October, we will be launching the Food & Rum magazine, dedicated to tropical cuisine and the great world of rum!

Stay tuned to http://www.macocaribbean.com for updates.

Happy reading!

Documenting the progress of Caribbean architecture and interior design

2008-04-24T18:01:00.002-04:00

Documenting the progress of Caribbean architecture and interior design is important. It is one way of recording, studying and enjoying our development as a region. It speaks to our history, culture, lifestyle and all that makes us unique.

Architects and interior designers are not only designing outside the colonial box in the Caribbean, but are fusing a number of eras and cultural influences to form a modern-day style of their own.

Suzy Hoodless’ home in Barbados fuses classical and plantation styles but it was “Caribbeanised” by such elements as wooden louvers. It also takes a retro glance with furniture and interiors of the Forties and Fifties. In the end, it is unique and enchanting and modern Caribbean.

At Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos, there is evidence of a new wave of creativity. This resort marries eastern Zen influences with contemporary Caribbean. The clean lines, soaring ceiling and use of water and wood are inspiring.

And a growing trend that is changing Caribbean design is greening with style. More and more, homeowners, architects, and interior designers are insisting on being environmentally friendly. This approach influences everything from ceiling to floor. The Caribbean-based architectural design company OBM has been one of the pioneers in this field (see page 66 of the current MACO Caribbean Living).

This issue if filled with the old and the new, with love and unfortunately with a little sadness, for we have had to say goodbye to one of our architectural pioneers – Bill Bassell, who catapulted OBM to its position as an architectural beacon. Bill passed away quite unexpectedly in December. His presence and inspiration, his laughter and his love will be missed by all, especially myself and my team at MACO.

This issue is also the beginning of another era – the era of MACO Caribbean Living. Our next issue will be our last of its kind and in September you will bear witness to the new MACO Caribbean Architecture, devoted solely to Caribbean architecture, design, furniture, gardens, and real estate. Have no fear gourmands; in October, we will be launching Food & Rum magazine, dedicated to tropical cuisine and the great world of rum!

Happy reading, designing, eating and drinking!

Neysha
Editor-in-Chief

To check out more of MACO magazines, visit http://www.macomag.com/.

A splendid Barbados property – a Suzy Hoodless masterpiece

2008-04-23T14:17:00.003-04:00

Photography courtesy Suzy Hoodless
Article by MACO Caribbean Living Writer - Sarah Venable

Regarding theatre, a cynical critic once observed that it is only called experimental when the experiment fails. Could the same be said of interior design and decoration? Not in this case, where English design consultant Suzy Hoodless brings her bold new vision to a Caribbean home, and succeeds wildly. She has done it before, with two estates in Scotland, a ski lodge, The Hospital in Covent Garden and private residences in West London and the counties. Before shifting careers about 10 years ago, Hoodless honed a related set of skills as interiors editor for the avant-trend lifestyle magazine, Wallpaper. In that capacity, she travelled the globe, creating interiors, styling shoots, and researching and reporting new trends, designs and designers.Having observed the scope of design possibilities and assembling a network of international suppliers, she now puts it all together in startling ways.

To read the rest of this article, which is featured in the current edition of MACO Caribbean Living, and to find out how Hoodless decorated a home in Barbados and transformed it into “an extremely comfortable, practical and informal family home”, visit http://www.macomag.com/featured_articles.htm.

Great sail wins for Enzyme - See you in Antigua!

2008-04-15T14:15:00.006-04:00

With all the various regattas and sailing festivals taking place in the Caribbean, early 2008 has been a blast for the MACO-sponsored, Trini yacht – Enzyme. In the recent CSA Spinnaker Racing I at the Rolex International St Thomas Regatta in the US Virgin Islands, Enzyme took 3rd place, and then 1st place in Spinnaker racing B at the Nanny Cay BVI Spring Regatta and sailing festival. This was at the end of March.

Photography by Tim Wright of www.photoaction.com

What’s Next
The MACO girls will be accompanying the Enzyme boys to the Antigua Stanford Regatta, which takes place from April 27-May 3, where we are hoping to place first again in this very competitive regatta. We’re also really psyched because we know we’re going to have loads of fun, much like Neysha did when she accompanied the guys to the Grenada Sailing Festival in January.

A Regatta Tale
Here’s the rundown from Enzyme’s Pierre LaBorde about the March 2008 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta:

There were two "Trini" boats in the St. Maarten regatta this year – Enzyme and Storm. We were in the same racing class along with other tough competitors such as Yani, Oystercatcher XXVI (you know they're experienced when this is their 26th boat), Caccia Alla Volpe, and the aptly named Minnie the Moocher.

Now, because there are about seven regattas every season that the boat may compete in, the regular Trini crew would not be able to do them all. Thus most regattas have a mixture of regular crew and crew from other boats, or friends from away. In St. Maarten the regular crew were myself, Mark Francois, Peter Baillie, Gregory Pantin and Michael Trestrail. The extra crew were Aaron Alkins, Kevin See Tai, Cai Swenson and Gualberto Rodriguez. The winds were blowing fairly strong and our new crew members took a few days to adjust to the boat and the conditions. Our transport crew were also our foredeck crew - Aaron "the Trini-Vincie-Bajan" Alkins and his sidekick Kevin "Mowgli" See Tai. Our guest skipper Cai "the Cigar man" Swenson had sailed on the boat two years ago but his friend Gualberto Rodriguez was a newcomer.

The Enzyme guys celebrate at the Rolex Regatta in the US Virgin Islands

Our arch-rival Caccia Alla Volpe got the better of us on the first day, but for the rest of the regatta, we had their number. Enzyme performed beautifully under spinnaker, at one time hitting 15.1 knots, our highest ever speed, with a red sail christened "Digicel"; so called jokingly because we have two other spinnakers sponsored by Bmobile and Blackberry. We did have one big faux-pas, out of several, when the boat broached (spun out of control) and lay on her side for what seemed like ages, because a certain crewmember forgot to release the line he was holding. The Around The Island Race was especially fun as we had the crew howling with glee as we regularly hit 14 knots down the Atlantic swell.

By the final day, we were a red hot crew once again. We eventually tied for 6th place out of 15 boats so there was some disappointment, but not overly so. Mark "Admiral of Vice" Francois was promoted to Vice Commodore but did not utilise this privilege, instead preferring to be Minister of Law'n'Order when he hauled us out of a party at the Soggy Dollar Bar just when alcohol was about to make things interesting.

Nevertheless, great quantities of Heineken were quaffed, and as I write this piece, the Enzyme crew is currently campaigning for several more regattas. Good Luck guys.

For more of the guys' sailing adventures, check out MACO Destinations.

Job vacancies for graphic designers at MACO Caribbean

2008-04-10T08:09:00.003-04:00

Toute Bagai Publishing Limited, publisher of MACO Caribbean Living and Destinations, currently has two vacancies for graphic artists, and we're encouraging all graphic designers (newbies and experienced alike) to apply. The positions are as follows:

1. Intern - Graphic Artist
2. Graphic Artist experienced with In Design, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Send your application letter and CV to:
Neysha Soodeen
Editor-in-Chief
info@macomag.com

Please spread the news, if you know someone who would be a perfect fit for MACO’s Graphic Design Department.

Cheers,
MACO
Website: http://www.macomag.com/

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