Rosemary Parkinson, Contributor
Tuk Bands perform on the streets of Bridgetown. - photos by Rosemary Parkinson/Gleaner Writer
Saturday July 7, marked yet another Crop Over Gala sponsored by the Barbados National Bank at Queen's Park, Bridgetown, Barbados. This is an annual all-day festivity marking the opening of the festival that runs through the month of July ending with Grand Kadooment - street jump-up with costumed bands following trucks of musicians or DJs belting out the best of the season's calypsos on August 2.
Queen's Park was awash with people even before the official ceremony, with sweet 'kaiso', drinks, snacks, snow-cone vendors while children were kept happy with face painting and culture at its best. At 4:00 p.m. the staged event really got into gear. By then the Grand Parade with the Barbados Youth Steel Orchestra, dancers, drummers from Archbishop Granville's Sons of God Apostolic Church and the donkey pulling the cart of 'last-canes' celebrating the end of the cane cutting and sugar-making season were already within the confines of the Park.
Once Archbishop's choir sang, prayed and blessed the canes, it was time to honour and crown the king and queen of this year's crop - the two persons found to be the most industrious during the season. The Royal Barbados Police Band were in full force receiving a StalwartAward that also went to El Verno Del Congo, Barbados' premier drummer who recently died. For him there were dancers from Dancin' Africa and the Ife Moko Jumbie drummers. Performances by 2006 Calypso Monarch David 'Kid Site' Piggot and Junior Calypso Monarchs, Tiffany Goddard and Kishee Moore, were well received before a young designers fashion show. This was followed by a vintage calypso revue organised by the Commission on Pan-African Affairs much to the delight of the crowd. Oh! Yes! Crop Over is in full swing.
Even Archbishop Granville's flock drummed their way through Bridgetown.
Happening Nightly
Tents belting out the best in calypso have been in music-mania for weeks with old names such as Red Plastic Bag, P.J. Pompey, Grynner, TC, John King, Gabby and Li'l Rick. Every night they are filled to capacity, mashing up the crowd with tunes that certainly bring about the waving of hands and wining of hips.
Clubs along De Gap (St. Lawrence) have been seeing record crowds on weekends. Band-houses are selling out their skimpy costumes like money going out of style. Even ICC Cricket is coming to the fore again with bands having sections immortalising the event. Those who have spent most of the year walking briskly around The Garrison (horse racing track in Hastings near Bridgetown) and around the Sherbourne Centre getting trim and ready for Crop Over, have thrown caution to the wind scouring the food streets after partying the nights away.
Best Fresh Fried Fish
Baxter's Road in the heart of Bridgetown is rife with Dutch-pots ah-frying. All manner of spices wafting through the air as fish is served up with copious amounts of macaroni pie, breadfruit and coleslaw. St. Lawrence Gap boasts 'Redman' opposite The Ship Inn still provides some of the best fresh fried fish I have ever tasted. Oistins tries its best to keep up. But for me the only place left thatdoes a roaring trade (because the man really, really understands the traditional way) is The Fish Net in the fishing complex itself. Nightclubs featuring calypsonians and 'hunky' male dancers (such as Turbulence) are bursting at the seams.
Small bars - Nelson's Arms on Worthing, Charlie's on Maxwell Coast Road, Scotty's at Dover (great, great food at incredibly fabulous prices), rumshops galore, nightclubs like Extreme and Harbour Lights, Tim's on De Highway are all hot, hot, hot. The best is that wherever or whatever your choice of party - there's a spot to eat up 'nuff fish, fried chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs and cutters (Bajan salt bread filled with a myriad of goodies that include ham, cheese, egg, flying fish).
Big Shows Around the Corner
Soon to come are the big shows - Pan In De City, Pan Pun De Sand, Pic-O-De-Crop Finals, Cohobblopot and Bridgetown Market. Calypsonians vying for various titles, the top one being Party Monarch, are in gear. Every venue will have their share of vendors selling all manner of glorious Bajan traditional nosh, beastly cold Banks, Heineken and Carib with the island's wide range of rums - my favourites being Cockspur or Old Brigand.
And don't think that children are being left out. Hello there. Talk about 'kiddies' bands with shows that have sweet 'kaiso' being belted out by these tiny tots - even they will have their Monarch. No, really, the excitement has already reached high proportions.
Air Jamaica is showing full flights to Barbados daily. The airport is inundated with planes from all over the world as the excitement and the hype move forward. If you want to be here for the Grand Kadooment Day Jump-Up, I suggest you book early. By the way there's only one choice, as far as I am concerned, on this day for food: Cou Cou Village on the Spring Garden Highway. Their Cou Cou (turned corn meal with okra) is legendary but if you are not keen on corn meal, the breadfruit one is to die for with copious amounts of steamed flying fish!
Want to know more?Go to website: Barbados.org. Also check out Grenada's carnival right after. Oops! Apologies! Last week's column on the BET MACO Food and Rum festival had famed St. Lucian Chef Doran Payne as David. Best? Just go St. Lucia and meet him. Book your LIAT flights now! Ah gorn!
Rosemary Parkinson with high hopes at Club Extreme trying to fit into a 'Big Boyz' costume opted instead for a double flying fish cutter and a Banks Beer!
Flying fish and coucou will soak up the alcohol at CouCou Village.
