New Toronto Mas Band: All Spice

New Carnival Band for Toronto Caribanna

I love Caribana. I go every year and play mas with Carnival Nationz.. The costumes are made incredibly well in my view and the prices are affordable. Well now it looks like one of the band leaders Curtis Eustice will be bringing a new band for Caribanna 2K9. He also has Evolution in Trinidad. The new band is called All Spice. Sounds familiar (LOL). Check out the website: All Spice Carnival.

Caw Caw Registration

Well finally I am registered for Caribanna. This year again I am playing mas with Carnival Nationz! I always love their costumes and I have always received FANTASTIC customer service from them. When I register I deal directly with the section leaders and band leaders. Maybe because I live outside of Tortono or maybe because I stalk them via email. Anyway my crew and I will be in the Caw Caw section! No frontline this year for me sadly. I'll put that extra $300 or so for my fab costume in Trinidad. $450 for a frontline in Canada is a little much in my book AND you don't get booze down the road just lunch. Plus it's only 1 day.

Caribana Band Launch: Carnival Nationz

Carnival Nationz has launched on 5/24/08 and just like I suspected, their costumes are HOT. Lots of feathers and beads and to me good workmanship. They have a certain flair that I love. Unfortunatly, I didn't go to the launch but the folks at http://www.torontolime.com/ took some great photos. I'm still waiting on some of my cousins to give me the names of some of the costumes. Below are the stand outs in my eyes. About 3 of the costume sections have feathered backpacks. I'm not sure how the look of the costumes fit in with the theme. I only saw one costume that look pirateish.. Still a good entry into the Caribana Band of the Year competition.
photoes from TorontoLime.com

Caribana Band Launch: Toronto Revellers

Well this weekend Toronto Revellers has launched. Their theme is ALKEBU'LAN. Not sure what it means maybe desert middle east, but I think they are trying to do a spin on the whole IP theme last year Sahara. AND there is a section called Animal Instincts and yes they have a lion costume, zebra costume etc..

Come on people get some ideas of you own! The costumes are cute but I have seen them before. I'm not impressed. My cousins like the costumes but again I want to ge wow'ed.. Take a look at the Toronto Lime gallery and judge for yourself.

http://www.toronto-lime.com/pictures/carnival/2008/080510_toronto_revellers_launch/index.htm

Below is an email many of us have received from Tribe, the Carnival Mas band in Trinidad. I am very excited to see what their costumes will look like. But as everyone knows bird costumes are very popular for Carnvial. The Tribe designers have a feat on their hands. Hopeully they take a page out of Brazilian designers book and just go feather crazy! Many of the bird costumes in T&T look sparse in feathers to me. Another thing to think about is authentic feathers are VERY expensive so I imagine costume costs this year for Tribe will be expensive. Start saving those pennies!

2009 ROLLIN’ ROAD PARTY

C2K8 – Thank You!
Before we take flight into the 2009 Carnival season, TRIBE would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for your tremendous support for C2K8. All of you – Masqueraders, Sponsors, Service teams, Volunteers, Committee Members and Friends continue to contribute in your special way to making us …TRIBE.

To say that the 2008 carnival season was a short one is an understatement, it was our most demanding yet. In spite of this, drinks flowed and masqueraders reveled in true TRIBE style.

Effectively managing the movement of the band along the parade route designated by the authorities continues to be a challenge for all bands. Cognizant of this fact, our Road Management Team has devised a comprehensive action plan for C2K9 to minimize the wait time and maximize the ‘move time’ for our Masqueraders.

We acknowledge your valuable input and feedback, rest assured that your opinions are important to us, they continue to positively influence TRIBE’s development and the evolution of Trinidad Carnival.


C2K9 – A New & Exciting Carnival Ahead!

As we celebrate our 5th year anniversary, you can look forward to many new and exciting ideas, innovations and ‘on de road’ surprises. Masqueraders will be fully entertained with our new TRIBE Rollin’ Road Party.

Our 2009 presentation entitled “Birds of a Feather…” will be launched in July 2008. This year ‘the early bird catches the worm’ as we will be reducing the size of the band to create a more intimate experience.

Our in-house designers with Gail, Lana and Monique at the helm along with outstanding new additions to the design and production teams are putting their final touches on the 2009 masterpieces. The costumes are ‘HOT’! Hold tight…we’re gonna take flight!

The Ultimate Carnival Experience
One People, One Vibe, One TRIBE!

Well Carnival band launching season has started. Many bands in Trinidad and elsewhere have set up band launching dates and themes. One band in particular that I play with almost every year is Carnival Nationz based in Toronto Canada.

Their theme this year is: Pirates. Their band launching is May 24th, 2008. I can't wait to see their costumes! I may have to go up to Toronto just for the band launching! Here is a link to their website: www.carnivalnationz.com. And they have a facebook group dedicated to this years theme. The group is called Carnival Nationz presents Pirates! This should be interesting they can go various ways with the costumes. This year Harts has a really nice pirate section so I am excited to see what Carnival Nationz comes up with. Two seciton leaders especially

T&T Carnival

Well I have been back from Trinidad for about a month and can't stop thinking about Carnival!! I am already planning for next year (flight, accomadations, etc.). This year we brought a whole gang of friends from New York City and it was great. I love exposing people to my culture.

This year we did somethings we never did before.. We went to Panorama. We had a great time and I think we will go every year! We also played in a Jourvet band Yellow Devils. Great time but where was the food :( It's ok we drank our belly's full! Can't wait till next year. In the mean time I will be getting my fix with various events and Carnivals in the US and Canada.

Machel at MSG
Caribanna in Canada
Labor Day in Brooklyn
Miami Carnival

I don't think I'll be playing mas. Instead I will be wearing one of my very fabulouse costumes. Maybe in Canada I'll play with Carnival with Carnival Nationz, Caribana to me is the best Carnival ouside of Trinidad.