February is Black History Month in Jamaica

27 January 2012 by Karin in Happening on the Edge 2012 [ no comments ]

SUPPORT BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

The Rootz Underground Garden Concert Series Kicks Off With Toots and the Maytals

26 January 2012 by Karin in Happening on the Edge 2012,Music,Rootz Underground [ no comments ]

Saturday, 4 February starting at 8pm, Rootz Underground and La Reserva Foundation in association with The Hope Gardens Preservation Society present A ROOTZ GARDEN CONCERT to be held at the Sunken Garden, Hope Gardens, Hope Road, Kingston.

“ITS GROWING” will feature performances from Toots & The Maytals, Ra Deal, Prophecy & The Band of Reggae, Dubtonic Kru, and of course Rootz Underground.

Great Huts, Boston Beach, An Eco-Tourism Resort in Portland

24 January 2012 by Karin in Worth A Visit [ 3 comments ]

Great Huts, Boston Beach, Jamaica

Here are some photos I took while visiting Great Huts recently. Photos contributed by my niece Sydney Wilson (age 12).

Great Huts is an eco-tourism resort in Boston Beach, Portland.

As described on its website, Great Huts is “built upon a 4 plus acre plateau atop the north east point of the Jamaican coast, (an) intimate vacation village of comfortably furnished dwellings, Wi-Fi communal areas, expansive cliff side views with dining areas, hammocks everywhere, lovely beach and sea pool, offer(ing) an Afro-Caribbean “roots” alternative to the traditional hotel or Villa”.

I would definitely call Great Huts rustic, but nice rustic. The place was booked solid with mainly European guests who I figure go for the “rustic chic” kind of vibe.  We didn’t stay the night so I can’t comment on the accommodations or the food really but here are some pix which will give you an idea of the layout of the place.

The Mona Dam – A Pretty Cool Place to Exercise

23 January 2012 by Karin in Photography,Photos from the Edge,Worth A Visit [ no comments ]

The Mona Dam - Birds at the Bar, Kingston, Jamaica

Thanks to Steve Urchin for this beautiful shot of the Mona Dam, which he named appropriately “Birds at the Bar”.

The dam is located in Mona, Kingston, near the University of the West Indies and is a popular spot for walkers, joggers, and the serious runners!

In addition to being a lovely place to exercise, the Mona Dam is home to a large variety of Jamaican birds including herons and pelicans and many others that I don’t know the names of…

Thanks Steve for this “Photo from the Edge”.

The Mona Dam, Kingston, Jamaica

JAMAICA Turns 50: A Look at Some of our Great Jamaican Artists

22 January 2012 by Karin in Art [ no comments ]

Edna Manley's Negro Aroused

This year, Jamaicans all over the world will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence from Britain. 

The year promises to be full of myriad cultural events celebrating our 50 years of independence.

Here’s the official Jamaica 50 website with a calendar of some of the events planned for the year so far.

And here is a post from Island Buzz Jamaica on some of the great Jamaican artists who have shaped “Jamaican art” over the years.

Some of these greats include Edna Manley, Albert Huie, Mallica “Kapo” Reynolds, David Pottinger, Barrington Watson, among many others.

Read more here at Islandbuzzjamaica.

The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship – Caribbean Accepting Applications

19 January 2012 by Karin in Entrepreneurs [ no comments ]

Are you a Caribbean entrepreneur? Do you know a small business that wants to grow? Or someone with a great business idea, that needs an extra boost?

The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship wants to help.

The Branson Centre is a not-for-profit hub for aspiring entrepreneurs. The Centre offers practical business skills training and support the growth and development of small and medium businesses with the aim to help stimulate economic growth and benefit disadvantaged communities in Jamaica.

For more information please contact:

The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship-Caribbean

Unit 14, Bogue City Centre

Montego Bay

Jamaica

Office: 876 632-5134

Website: bransoncentre.org

Redbones Foreign Film Night Presets La Piel Que Habito (The Skin I Live In) – January 21

17 January 2012 by Karin in Film,Happening on the Edge 2012 [ no comments ]

This Saturday, Redbones presents it’s “foreign film” night.

This week’s film is the latest film from the Spanish master film-maker, Pedro Almodovar, who tells the story of a brilliant plastic surgeon who has developed his craft to the point of obsession as he attempts to create the perfect skin.

His experiments involve the beautifully crafted Vera who has benefited from the best of plastic surgery in exchange for the loss of freedom.

Vera’s continued quest for freedom threatens to destroy the haven of perfection built by the mad scientist.

Starring the Spanish heartthrob Antonio Banderas who first appeared in an Almodóvar film 30 years ago.

Directed by Pedro Almodóvar, 115 minutes, in Spanish w/subtitles, 2011.

Showtime: 8pm

Contribution: $400

ECLECTIC – The Ultimate Concert and After Party – Saturday, January 21

16 January 2012 by Karin in Happening on the Edge 2012 [ 1 comment ]

Saturday January 21, Griot Music presents a live music show featuring Tanya Stephens, Tessanne Chin and Dubtonic Kru with an after party with selectors ZJ Electra and DJ Smoke from Rennaissance.

The night will begin with the poetry of Cherry Natural, Randy McLaren, Najuequa Barnes, Ganja, Samuel Gordon and Simone C. Simpson, alternating with a performance by the 2011 GBOBJA winner and Dubtonic Kru.

Venue:  Courtleigh Auditorium. Gates open at 7pm.

For more info see Tanya Stephens and Tessane Chin for Eclectic and the facebook page.

New Video From Rootz Underground – “Rain”

13 January 2012 by Karin in Music,Rootz Underground [ no comments ]

Here’s the teaser video of “RAIN” featuring Sherieta Lewis courtesy of our friends at Rootz Underground. 

The band will be releasing a new album this summer, so looking forward to that and more big things from Rootz this year!

Catch them in your city if you can!!

Lots more about Rootz in our archives!

The First Rasta, A New Movie Generating Big Buzz

12 January 2012 by Karin in Film [ no comments ]

Here’s a movie that’s generating a big buzz in the underground cinema world…Thanks Marcel for the tip off!

“The First Rasta tells the life of Rastafarianism’s founder, Leonard Percival Howell, from precocious anti-colonialist (he witnesses a murder as a child and refuses to collaborate with Jamaica’s justice system) to world traveler and social visionary.

Utilizing archival footage, police reports, traditional voiceover narration, and interviews with Howell’s followers, acquaintances, and relatives, director Hélène Lee, who’s also written a book about the subject matter, goes beyond the clichés associated with Rasta”.

Read more at Slant Magazine

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ARC Magazine Internship Program Now Open

11 January 2012 by Karin in Art [ no comments ]

ARC Magazine’s 2012 internship program is now open and seeking to appoint new candidates, preferably university students and recent graduates who have a vested interest in Visual art, Art History, Media & Cultural Studies and Journalism.

While at ARC interns will have the opportunity to:

Urban Heartbeat Street Art Contest Coming to Jamaica

10 January 2012 by Karin in Art [ no comments ]

Urban Heartbeat is a regional project featuring artists from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Together with German painter Jim Avignon they create a mural in a public space in each participating country, followed by an after party.

Urban Heartbeat is coming to Jamaica – February/March 2012.

Read more here at ArtJamaica.com 

A Few Portland Sights

8 January 2012 by Karin in Worth A Visit [ 2 comments ]

Boston Bay - The view from Great Huts Eco Resort, Portland (more on Great Huts later...)

I was in Portland over the weekend hanging out with friends and family.  

Portland, mainly in and around Port Antonio, is one of my favourite spots for a “getaway from Kingston” weekend as many who read this blog regularly will already know.

Here are some of the reasons why…

Great Huts beach, it's rocky but cool still- photo by Steve Urchin

Tanya Stephens to Headline ECLECTIC January 21

6 January 2012 by Karin in Happening on the Edge 2012 [ no comments ]

Donn’t miss Tanya Stephens headlining ECLECTIC – the ultimate show and after party!

ECLECTIC will take place on Saturday January 21 at the Courtleigh Auditorium. Gates open at 7pm.

Tanya will be joined by Tessanne Chin and Dubtonic Kru with an after party with selectors ZJ Electra and DJ Smoke from Rennaissance.

Also performing will be Cherry Natural, Randy McLaren, Najuequa Barnes, Ganja, Samuel Gordon and Simone C. Simpson.

Tickets are available at Max Brown Ltd in Sovereign Centre.

Presold $2,000 and $3,000 at the gate

For more info: facebook and YardEdge 

Andy Jefferson at Clifton Mount Coffee Estate, Blue Mountains

3 January 2012 by Karin in Photography,Photos from the Edge [ no comments ]

Here’s a photo from the edge! submitted by Jamaican artist, Andy Jefferson taken at Clifton Mount coffee estate high up in the Blue Mountains. 

Thanks Andy!

For more about Clifton Mount coffee – see YardEdge talks to Cafe Blues’s Jason Sharp

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS FROM THE EDGE!