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The whole idea behind the new facility, says National Gallery Director, Natalie Urquhart, is to create a community space that will be open and accessible to all. She hopes all residents and visitors will feel they can stop by at any time, whether it’s to browse the art collections, attend a special event or simply enjoy a coffee in the gardens. For many, Bodden Town is little more than a change of scenery on the drive between Seven Mile Beach and Rum Point. But the historic capital of the Cayman Islands has a rich history, much of which can be experienced just off the main road at the Mission House. Decorating your home for the holiday season seems to have become a national pastime in the Cayman Islands. Lights and ornaments seem to adorn every window, door, railing, tree and open spot in every yard all over, lending a festive atmosphere to the islands. Giving back
December 6, 2011 Whether you decide to donate time, money, or goods, there are many charitable organisations in the Cayman Islands that would gladly accept your help, especially over the festive season. Cayman has always been intimately connected with the ocean – as a group of three islands, it could be no other way. One of the major draws of Pirates Week is the ability to really get under the skin of what makes the Cayman Islands tick. These
individual days allow each district to showcase their current and past
skills, techniques and histories as well as providing huge amounts of
entertainment along the way. The family friendly fun takes place From Thursday, 10 November, to
Sunday, 20 November, and this year there’s a brand new presenting
sponsor in Caymanian company SaxonMG, which has thrown its weight behind
the national festival that delights so many thousands of tourists and
visitors from around the world each year. It’s that time of year again, when men have an excuse to grow a mo’, despite the protestations of their significant others, all for a good cause. Halloween is fast drawing near, so for those who are pressed for time
and don’t want to blow the budget on decorations (rather spending it on
candy!) there are a couple of good options out there. The event has become an annual tradition over the past decade, with this year’s event being titled Doggywood – Fashion Unleashed! Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts will be hosting its second annual Paws for Wine fundraiser on Saturday, 1 October at Ristorante Pappagallo from 6.30pm. Aaargh ya ready for the most Piratey festival ever to hit these fair shores? Meet Kate Allenger. Some recognise her as partner and wife to popular Hi Tide vocalist Shane Allenger, some know her as a dive instructor or advertising agent, yet most of us in the local music scene know her as the master behind the fiddle. Living on an island has a remarkable effect on one’s perception of
distance. How else is it possible to explain that many people who live
in George Town view driving to West Bay as quite a drive? Dust off your golf clubs and get your dancing shoes on. It’s party time! From the land
August 3, 2011 Local restaurants have also been driving the trend, using ever more
local produce in their cooking, and partnering with farmers to make the
most of everything that can be grown in Cayman. When you find a snail shell at the beach or on a dive, you really must leave it alone. ‘If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, you’re lucky enough’, so
declares the cute decorative plaque with which you can smugly appoint
your walls.
How many of you have spent much time in East End if you
don’t live there? I can still recall some 25 years ago, sitting on my deck
along the shores of Frank Sound, I noticed this tall thin fellow dragging a
giant tree stump through shallow waters. Later, I saw him with a sack full of
conch shells, bits of old rope and a mangled worthless fish net. April will be a month of celebrations at
Camana Bay. From Easter to Earth Day to the celebration of the royal wedding
there will be something for everyone Cayman’s National Festival of the Arts,
better known as Cayfest, kicked off towards the end of March and will run until
1 May. The festival aims to showcase some of Cayman’s finest artists and performers
through a number of events which are open to the public In Cayman, cool is the operative phrase over Christmas time – the weather chills just enough to make you want to spend all day outside, and you need the clothes to carry off the chilled look to perfection. Sarah McTaggart was born into music. Having a family of musicians, there
is seldom a quiet moment at any family gathering; everyone sings or
plays an instrument. Her dad, local business man Steve McTaggart has
been a huge inspiration for Sarah. Pirates Week is a fun-filled and family-friendly festival that shows off
the creativity, inclusiveness and traditions of the Cayman Islands.
Cayman has a rich and varied history and the popular Heritage Days draw
visitors from around the world to each district as they showcase the
past, present and future of their own part of the Islands. Cayman BECOME is a new campaign promoting the use of reusable shopping
bags instead of plastic, encouraging members of the community to take
their own reusable bags when they shop. There are those who believe that the music world is full of animals,
especially when it comes to rock music. On Saturday 5 June, these folks
will be proven right, at least for a day, as Petapalooza takes over
Grand Harbour for a day of music. Discovery Day long weekend, from 15 to 17 May, provides a useful
mid-year break. Endangered species around the globe are being identified and protected
through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora, established in 1973. Cindy Blekaitis is a counsellor and educational facilitator at
the Empowerment and Community Development Agency (formerly the Women’s
Resource Centre). Gardening might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but even those not into
gardening is bound to be impressed by the displays at the Garden Club of
Grand Cayman’s annual flower show. The animals and animal lovers of the Cayman Islands owe the Cayman
Islands Humane Society a great debt of gratitude. Down on the farm
February 2, 2010 The Cayman Islands Agricultural Show is one of the biggest community
events around, drawing thousands of visitors. Granted, a first prize cow
might not stir everyone’s passion, but this annual event has much more
to offer. It’s time once more for Cayman Arts Festival and this year’s line-up
features top local talent as well as international participation. Glen Inanga and Jennifer Micallef are behind the event as usual and they
have high hopes for the event. “Cayman Arts Festival is a well-established and respected in Cayman and
internationally, to the extent that airlines are using it in their
marketing to entice people here.” There is much to see in Cayman, both on land and on the water. Yet quite often it seems that visitors see more of the Cayman Islands in a day than many residents do in all their time on island. Excuses are varied, but quite often include the words ‘too many tourists’ and a lack of
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