On to Friday-Black and White/Socavivor

Tuesday, October 16, 2007 clivia 2 Comments

So After Tribe Party...Bagogyul the Solider and CARA head out to Rise and Shine..
LOOORD...i wanted to go...but i had some Band responsibilities...
but
always the optimist..the girl dress like she WOULD be there on the possibilty that i would make it.

So.. i head out early in the morning...Going to pick up some additional feathers and stuff...but I had a lunch time committment with MIss Kizzy Vibrations to sort out the last of the costumes..
Got distracted for a minute though cause I had to head to the airport to pick up a relative that was coming in...So...the person aint show.
I stand up in the airport for over an hour...and finally decided to head out back to my car...
who i see pull up in the airport ..


Marlos and Les..

Apparently they were there to pick up my cousin Sophia who had just come in for the carnival. so after some hugs in the street to the distress of the Sherriff, and a plan to meet up at LC's Roti shop later, we all headed out.

Got to the mas camp, and doing the last distributions ....only to find out that one...some headpieces needed some radical make overs, and two we needed some last minute touch ups on some of the other pieces of the costume.

The plan was I would take the Peacock headpieces and do the additions myself...and then meet up with Dania and them at Sybil's for distribution. But by the time we finished we were just able to head to Sybils's to meet up with masqueraders for distribution. Tired.

The vibes there was nice. Rhythm International guys was there showing love, Walshy Fire and unknown till now masqueraders were already there waiting. I was so tired by this time that I knew I had to go home and rest. Bagogyal met me over there, and thank god Marlon brought me some doubles from LC. Now that I think about it that was the first thing i had to eat that whole DAY?? Tired.

anyways...the plan for the night was Black and White first and then Socavivor..

So Dania and I head out about midnight. Tickets in hand and Les and Marlon was to meet us there.

Mind you..we had been running around making sure we had our tickets for the event. After getting lost TWICE we finally get to black and white...and we bounce up Marlos and Les parked around the corner. We had their tickets so we kept driving around in the area to get a closer parking spot.

People..

EVEN with all tickets being sold in advance...there was a line wrapped around the building and growing longer as we waited. I'm talking about a TWO hour wait line. In fact , some friends who decided to brave the line said they were in fact in the line for almost an hour and half....waiting to get in..WITH ADVANCE TICKETS!!

HELL NAH.

So Bago and i did as most Trickydadians do..hahah [Nicole I know you gonna like that]

We SOLD the blasted tickets to some people outside...drive round the corner to find Marlon and them ...and headed to SocaVivor.

Oh to be smart and Trinidadian...hahahah

We ain't even bother to ask Marlon and them what they wanted to do..we sold their tickets too...hahaha...and it was off to Bayside Hut.

I must digress for a second to explain...that Miss Bago and I...had a quick wardrobe change in the car on the way to Socavicor. I mean COMPLETE change..one minute we all bashy for Black and white....and while we rolling on the Rickenbacker, changed to shorts and heels...complete with earrings and accessories. SOLDIERS!!! God I love Carnival.

Anyways we go over the bridge on Rickebacker and all we see is......

LINE.

Traffic for days. I thought there was an accident or something. But apparently...the police was directing the traffic to the parking lots. You were not allowed to do a left turn on the normal entrance to Bayside Hut. You had to drive all the way up Past the hut and then parking in the designated areas.

But what was HOT!! ...is that they had SHUTTLES. Yes i said SHUTTLES...so that after you parked your car, you walked out to the shuttle area and they dropped you to the staging/ticket areas.

Bago and I park easy easy...nice spot down in the light...advised the security fellas to watch the car...and walked out and took our shuttle to the ticketing areas. The line wasn't long and we had to jus go to the will call trailer and get out tickets and then go inside.

I love that Set up.

Unfortunately i had a mess up with the tickets for Marlon and they and they had to go purchase their tickets then.. I think was SIXTY dollars...jeesum piece....but they were soon inside behind us. AND GET THIS..they CHANGE IN THE CAR TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

TSB sets up the hut like a little village, booths for food and flags and paraphernalia. The Hut itself is set up like a running disco and over on the other side by the boats, they built a sound stage where the artists perform right alongside the Bar on the left.

This was a CASH bar!! HALLELUJAH! No blasted buy a chit and get a drink...i love that..

Soon we set up nice under a tree in the back.

Breeze blowing nice, right by the corner of the bar..and the vertically challenged one has a nice direct line to see the stage...

Everybody pass through that little area too..so it was a real nice vantage point...

Bago decided it was time to get something to eat so we went to this vendor for Bake and shark and salt fish...OH MY GOD...talk about delicious... a piece fall on the ground and I nearly had a heart attack. Thank god for trini food.

Anyways back to my little area...around this time now..Les and her family came and met us there and we ended up with a nice little lime.

Right around the corner too a ton of Bago people...this was a real Bago weekend.

The vibes was nice for the party...drinks in hand ..company nice..
then BAM

RAIN...and not no cooling rain...Rain that mash up the tents over on the other side...and turn the floor into a swamp

Me and Bago get lucky.... we run for the tent with the drinks..and got inside early so that the outside people well block the DELUGE that came down. Mr Joseph play body guard whole night...so a sister was well dry..Thank you darlin..

TWICE this deluge happen..and about four o clock ...while the rain now easing up...who we see walking in..

JESUS HIMSELF!! THE BOY! THE BOY!!
with Patrice Roberts and others in tow..

But guess what... I Was too tired to care..
Fall over if you want to...i know some people fainting right now...my carnival was all planned around the BOY..
But the honest to god truth was..
I was too TIRED AND COLD AND DRENCHED to care..

Me and Bago said Bye to the others who we found out stayed well into the morning and headed home.

Socavivor...

4 STARS....but we coming back

Tribe Ignite

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 clivia 0 Comments

You swear this was a Marlos party. Can't take credit for the pics either ..They were his..Thanks Darlin

Miami Carnival 2007 Review - Tribe Ignite!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007 clivia 3 Comments

So i figured the best thing to do would be do it in stages.

First Night. Tribe-Ignite. THURSDAY

We decided to go to to the Tribe party instead of Girl Power. I not gonna get into the reasons why.hahah. Those who KNOW....KNOW!! And those who dont...GUESS!!

Anyways.
Cousin Bago came in about 11..so I decided to wait on her before I headed out.

My other friends got down there real early ...and they scared me because when they first got there they were saying." Cliv nobody here...we waiting in our car to go inside."
Talk about shell shocked !!

The same people that were throwing this party has had some mas issues before so EVERYBODY was kinda worried about whether the party would come off or not.

Anyways. On to the fete...
Cousin reach...and we had to meet up with Marlos from home, and Cara from Brooklyn so the convoy now dubbed Carnival Soldiers would go to Big Fish ...

Anyways we meet up at a Gas a station half way.
Oh my look marlos...he so sweet ...met the Friend...Les [the bald head rasta]...and we out.

Got to big Fish say 1:30 which on a usual night is PERFECT TIME to get there...

I had the sense though to call my Friend who works the door to make sure things set up.

So The convoy heads down to BF....and we looking for parking..

Me and Bago drive past the entrance...and what we see..is TRIBE banner on the wall
And this gorgeous red fabric hanging down , rippling in the breeze over the usual entrance for Big Fish...the two of us alone in the car SCREAMING...Oh GEEEED [non trinidadians i sorry...this is an exclamation term of surprise, disgust, or shock]....it's BEAUTIFUL ....HYPE FOR DAYS!!

Mind you the other two friends already inside...We got lucky to park too. The guy manning the parking lot remebered me from my usual visits to big fish..and gives us parking on the side walk OUTSIDE the fete...Nice so when we ready to leave things nice...

Gone inside...my friend "Nickie Nix by the door.she so sweet...I bought tickets...but the numbers increased over time and she ..well..is all love Nix...thank you..so we set.
TALK ABOUT A PARTY NICE!!

the place looked GORGEOUS...
it was almost NOT BIG FISH!!
Not too ram...space to move and chill and watch people...BEAUTIFUL people,....
Was like a who's who party...[which is what we loooove]
and we decide to set up in the back close to the bar.

Mr Marlos so sweet I don't think i paid for ONE drink....
and every time you turn around I was running into some Bago person...
Like the WHOLE of Tobago was there...[ dj Smallie, the Achille Boys, Dean Defreitas ...not bago but college friend], And then I found Miss Jazzy and the used to be jamaican crew...Dj hummingbird and Marls...and the rest of their people..I gave Marla a present ...but i think she threw it away. HAHAHAH.

Party NICE ...NICE NICE NICE NICE NICE...

Although we had some ...DRAMA..lol...I gonna leave that un-disclosed for the people involved...especially since Debra the WAR Monger was barefoot walking in the road ready to kill somebody...hahahahahah

But LOOOOORD party nice..

Bago and all get tipsy..drinks was strong Like Hell...
I know Marlos has pics...
So when I get them I gonna
add them as an album.
Sister bloggers if allyou have pics...send on ill add them...


RATING... 5 STAR

We goh see allyuh next year!!

Miami Carnival 2007 In Review

Tuesday, October 09, 2007 clivia 2 Comments

Allyuh...i know starting to come off my carnival high....
so this is a quickie till later..
My blogger Girls...who now have a Face to Me..
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My CARNIVAL SOLDIERS!!!
Stay tuned for Next year...and pictures....so we can share
BAGO GYAL my ride or die...i hate when allyuh have to go back Home!!!
All my newly initiated FLAVA girls..
Thank you ..thank you..
them vibes were AMAZING!!! i will go through fire to have that same vibe EVERYTIME...so the formula must remain!!
Party reviews soon...

Clivia/Tallest/Browngirl/Guinness
My new catch Phrase:
"I'm not a Movie Star, But I play one on TV!!" [details to follow]

And the fallout Begins...Fort Lauderdale Police Overreact Broward Carnival 2007

Tuesday, October 09, 2007 clivia 0 Comments

Fort Lauderdale police overreacted when they called for emergency backup to control crowds at the Broward Caribbean Carnival, event organizers said Monday.

Andy Ansola, president of the organization, said the response Sunday shows how unaccustomed Fort Lauderdale officers are to Caribbean cultural events and signals a need for sensitivity training.

"You have to understand the mind-set of the people," Ansola said. "The people are just there to have a good time. They're not there to create a riot. They're just there to release and be free."

Police said hundreds tried to push their way through a gate in the 5300 block of Northwest 12th Avenue. The emergency call about 6 p.m. almost brought all on-duty officers to the site, but police canceled it once a special unit with crowd control expertise calmed things down.

The incident marks the latest controversy to plague the carnival, held Sunday at the Fort Lauderdale Stadium, where police estimated 20,000 people attended. The event has grown so large that organizers have had difficulty finding a site to accommodate it.

Carnival treasurer John Beckford said the organization paid the city of Fort Lauderdale about $36,000 for police, fire and Emergency Medical Services and spent $20,000 to hire two security companies.

Despite the security presence, police defended the emergency call. It occurred during one of the day's few trouble spots.

"It's a shame that one incident happened, because they were well-behaved," Sgt. Frank Sousa said of the crowd. "Everybody else was nice. We told them to do something, they listened. They were there to have a good time, that's all they wanted to do."

"The bottom line is we're in control, they're not," Sousa said. "That's why we called in the troops."

Ansola said the incident occurred when masquerade bands were going through a special entrance. He said one band alone had 400 people, and police only allowed people into the stadium one at a time.

"The way police were doing it, it sort of aggravated the crowd," he said. "They were sending them in single file, and it wasn't going to work. It got out of hand. People started pushing, and the barrier came down. But it was quickly put back up, and that was the end of the story."

Ansola plans to meet with police officials to suggest they send some officers for training in Trinidad and Tobago, where carnival is king. He said police in New York and Canada have taken that approach.

Sousa said that would not be necessary. "In a perfect world, maybe that would be great," he said. "But we're a professional department. We've worked several large events. I don't think it has anything to do with culture."

Carnival organizers have been trying to find a permanent home for the festival, known for its uninhibited revelry. They said this year's event was successful. But after paying twice the amount for security and trash pickup than in previous years at the city's request, Beckford was disappointed by some of the logistics.

Beckford said he didn't understand why emergency backup was necessary with more than 60 officers on site. He also wanted an explanation for why the fire marshal stopped patrons from entering the stadium at 7:30 p.m. when it was scheduled to end at 11 p.m., allowing organizers to sell only 13,000 of the 20,000 printed tickets.

Ansola said the carnival lost $120,000 as a result.

"We met all of their demands, paid a lot of money, and here it is we have to be begging them to stay open so we can meet our obligations," he said.

Sousa said people were allowed to come all night.

But Arnel Anthony, a bandleader, said his 100-member masquerade band reached the gate at about 6:10 p.m. and police escorted them off the premises.

"We had no choice but to move," said Anthony, who said the group paid $5,000 to participate but wasn't allowed in the venue. "We should be compensated."

Last month, the Fort Lauderdale City Commission agreed to host the carnival at the stadium just weeks before the event and after it had been rejected by the city of Miramar.

Commissioner Christine Teel, whose district includes the stadium, said she heard reports that police were concerned about the number of people. She doesn't support the event coming back next year.

"It was bound to happen because there were just so many people," said Teel, who was opposed to hosting the event. "This isn't any surprise because it's what happened the last couple years."

Staff Writer Brittany Wallman contributed to this report. Alva James-Johnson can be reached at ajjohnson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4546.
more articles in /news/local/broward

Silence...SUCKS [Into The West]

Wednesday, October 03, 2007 clivia 3 Comments

sigh..

This blog been brewing for days now. To be honest a sister was torn between being politically correct and just...well...being real. Miami Carnival is always politics...and I try not to stir the pot too much.

Bago...you know what I'm talking about....is like Island Mix back board...nothing saying up front ...but the PM's busy like Noah on Flood Day!

Well allyuh sure as hell know by know that IE is not on the road for Miami Carnival. I'm devastated.

I remember at their launch though i was so proud of them too...plus that Saloon Girls Costumes rocked me. We were almost Saloon Girls.

In the end, Clivia the Artist's Interests [ my alter ego] won out. I wasn't playing with them, but personally I consider them my friends, and I wanted to see them do Well.

I'm not gonna speculate [well publicly at least] on the reasons...cause we all know Carnival is Bacchaanal...and to be honest not going on the road is a Producer's NIGHTMARE that I can associate with PERSONALLY!!! I been there....

Let me Say it too. My Section Last Year GREAT BARRIER REEF With GENERATION X NEVER TOUCHED THE ROAD!!!. and if you're Pisces like me...its all YOUR fault, no committee , no group..no nothing..
YOUfailed. So I'm not gonna speak on that.

What I am gonna speak on...PC or not...is that by Now a STATEMENT should have been made about the band.

It's a Matter of Credibility I think.

The worst possible outcome has happened at the worst possible time. TRUE.

The reality is that disgruntled masqueraders, despite getting their deposits back or not, will talk. We are TRINIDADIANS!! We talk period!! And what we don't know the truth about, WE WILL MAKE UP!! You know we can carry a grudge forever, especially about MAS!! You know they make noise ...just for fun ....just to see how you will react.

You guys have a purpose and plan for Mas in Florida...I know...cause I Know You. And this feel like real CACA right now....
But I think a statement should be made to the public in general. I'm not saying tell us exactly what happened. Thats allyuh business. Shit happens....sometimes at the worse possible time.

But there is life and MAS after this...and an attempt at restitution should be LOUD and CLEAR.

It not gonna fix the situation, fallout will still occur, but it speaks towards the perception of your integrity as an entity. Silence SUCKS!!!

Speak please.