Articles
Exclusive cultural and political content highlighting issues affecting the Caribbean diaspora
We Come Out to Fete
Elevation DMV Weekend
Miami Carnival is usually the last big soca party weekend in the United States. Socaholics are forced to wait until February for Trinidad Carnival. Since I was unable to go to Miami, I was thrilled when Full Stop Entertainment intervened and provided DysChick with one more fete-portunity (sure, that's a word now). The weekend consisted of a kickoff, main event, and cool down party that brought top artists and deejays from around the world to the DMV (DC/Maryland/Virginia area).
We Ramajayin'
Brooklyn Labor Day Carnival Weekend 2015
Labor Day weekend in Brooklyn is the culmination of the summer season of partying. The annual celebration includes parties, boat rides, and lastly, the West Indian Labor Day parade on Eastern Parkway. The summer season of partying was restricted due to the loss of large venues like Pulse 48. With fewer venues, promoters ventured into Manhattan and Queens.
Anywhere We Go, De Party Done
Soca Flash Mob in Brooklyn
Search for the term online, and you may find flash mob defined as "a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place and perform an unusual and seemingly pointless act for a brief time before quickly dispersing." Seemingly pointless does not apply to the soca flash mob that took to the streets in front of the Barclay's Center on Saturday, August 29th. The point was to positively showcase Caribbean culture and to make history.
This Is How We Move. This Is Our Way
HUSH Caribbean Silent Party in Brooklyn
One way to deal with the noise complaints threatening to shut down parties in Brooklyn this summer is to have everybody HUSH!
On Saturday, August 15th, Caribbean Silent Events produced Brooklyn's first Caribbean silent party called HUSH on the rooftop of the Brooklyn Children's Museum. The concept is simple. Upon arrival, everyone receives a wireless headphone that connects to the frequency of three different stations. At any time during the event, the user is able to adjust the volume and tune in to another deejay. Once a station is selected, the LED light on the headphones switches to that deejays designated color. Find someone with the same color led light on their headphones and take a wine!
Leave Me, Lemme Play Ah Mas
Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana)
Every year over one million people flock to Toronto for the largest street parade in North America. This celebration of West Indian culture and pageantry, commonly called Caribana, takes time and money to put on. That's why it was upsetting to see so many non-masqueraders climb over the fence, cross the stage with masqueraders, and actually want to fight for food they did not pay for.
My People, Are You Ready To Party?
Memorial Day Weekend Review
Memorial Day Weekend kicks off the summer party season for New York's socaholics. However, with Brooklyn venues threatening to shut out feters, there is uncertainty as to whether or not the summer season will be as festive as in past years. This weekend, I got to sample some new and some familiar locations
We taking over! We everywhere!
Trucked
While the rest of New York City was tuned in to the season finale of "Empire," scores of socaholics flocked to Liberty Theater in Midtown Manhattan for Trucked to relive the Trinidad Carnival experience. The concept was ambitious, but Jay Upscale and THC Promotions pulled it off.
Dr. Jay's Return Fete in Toronto
Dr. Jay's Return Fete at Sound Academy in Toronto
“Deanna, why are you heading north in the winter?”
Sometimes it is hard to explain why I feel compelled to fly from New York to Toronto, especially during the winter. This time it was easily explained: Dr. Jay and Machel! How is that not worth booking a flight, finding a hotel, and buying new fleece-lined earmuffs? Okay, maybe it’s just me.