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New York’s boozy ice cream comes to the Bahamas

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

Melissa Tavvs seems to have been destined to become the founder of the popular Tipsy Scoop ice cream brand, which she is now introducing to the Bahamas thanks to local franchise holders.

It was her great, great, great-grandfather, Achille, who moved from his small mountaintop town in Italy to Glasgow, Scotland, where he began making ice cream at home and sold it from a pushcart in the city streets. He eventually opened his own ice cream shop and brought his sons into the business. The family business continued with Melissa’s great, great-grandfather, Giovanni, who opened several of his own shops around Glasgow in the 1900s. Then her great-grandfather, Federico, continued the family ice cream tradition and opened shops throughout Scotland and England, and eventually became the president of the Ice Cream Alliance of Great Britain.

In 2014, Melissa - a NYU graduate who has been honoured by the James Beard Foundation and the Specialty Food Association - took up the mantle and opened her own ice cream company in New York City, giving the family tradition a modern and boozy twist.

The flagship store is located at 217 East 26th Street in Manhattan, but the brand has a strong presence in the northeast of the US and ships nationwide to all 50 states.

And now, Tipsy Scoop is expanding overseas and has opened its first location in the Bahamas, at Calypso House, Marlborough Street, in Nassau.

In a grand opening this past week, the new “barlour’ (a portmanteau of bar and parlour) introduced boozy ice cream flavours to the island, including their signature favourites like the dark chocolate whiskey salted caramel, cake batter vodka martini, mango margarita sorbet, as well as an exclusive flavour in tribute to its location, the Bahama Mama.

This ice cream is infused with coconut rum, and swirled with fresh orange and pineapple juice, with a touch of grenadine.

In an interview with Tribune Weekend, the location’s franchise owners Doneth and Mykul Cartwright said Tipsy Scoop’s unique boozy flavours are as delicious as they are “Instagramable”, combining the nostalgia of a scoop of ice cream with the indulgence of a craft cocktail.

Considering the tropical climate of the Bahamas and strength of the tourism industry, you couldn’t pick a better location to open a boozy ice cream shop, said the owners.

A Tipsy Scoop favourite is the Boozy Ice Cream Flight, featuring four differ-

A

ent flavours with candy toppings and garnishes.

“Customers select four flavours from our menu and fill out a tasting sheet as they sample them. We even have themed flights like ‘Tequila Lovers’ for Cinco de Mayo and ‘Tropical Drinks’ for Summer,” said the Cartwrights.

The brand is also known for its overthe-top cocktail-inspired sundaes like the ‘Tequila Sunrise’ a mango margarita and strawberry sangria sorbet with grenadine syrup, fresh orange, gummy cherries and a sunshine lollipop; or the “It’s My Party”, a cake batter vodka martini ice cream with vanilla frosting and rainbow sprinkles, topped with gummy bears, cone pieces and an extra

“shot” of choice.

All sundaes are sold in a keepsake Tipsy Scoop barlour glass, included in the price of the sundae.

“All of our flavours are infused with real spirits. Unlike baking or cooking with alcohol, none of the alcohol is cooked off in our production process. All of our recipes are formulated to be up to five percent ABV (the equivalent of a light beer), so customers can indulge in a sweet treat and a craft cocktail at the same time,” said the owners.

The business partners said the overall goal for the brand here in the Bahamas is to deliver an amazing experience - not just delicious and boozy ice cream. When it comes to the design of the new location, the team went for a colourful and sophisticated vibe, while keeping the signature elements of the Tipsy Scoop franchise brand.

“We are looking forward to bringing this unique liquor infused ice cream experience to the Bahamas. We can’t wait for everyone to come try all the flavors for themselves,” said the Cartwrights.

TIPSY Scoop cart in Nassau (Photos by Tipsy Scoop)

TIPSY Scoop’s tribute to its new location, the Bahama Mama ice cream

Elevating the local food industry

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

WITH a focus on elevating the culinary offerings within the Bahamian food and beverage industry, Sysco Bahamas is hosted its first annual Spring Food Show last night at the Baha Mar Convention Centre.

The event aimed to not only highlight new products, but also to put the spotlight on global industry trends in the food sphere.

The Spring Food Show took place under the theme “Everything in Bloom” and featured a variety of vendors of food, beverages, and equipment, as well as a chef competition with local chefs, restaurant owners, managers and various notable individuals in the local culinary industry.

Sysco Bahamas, formerly known as Bahamas Food Services, said while this marks the first showcase of the year, it was not an inaugural event

“With years of experience in fostering culinary excellence, we are thrilled to continue our tradition of culinary innovation and networking opportunities,” said De’Shay Whyms, brand specialist with Sysco.

“Our showcase is inspired by a deep-seated desire to elevate culinary offerings within the food and beverage industry in the Bahamas. We aim to provide a dynamic platform for chefs to converge, exchange ideas, and delve into the latest global industry trends.

Through this event, we seek to spotlight cutting-edge product offerings from our international vendors while fostering creativity and excellence in the culinary arts,” she said.

De’Shay said the primary aim of the showcase is to unite professionals within the food and beverage industry.

“We provide a vibrant platform for networking, facilitating invaluable connections, and fostering collaborations. Furthermore, our showcase serves as an educational hub, offering insights into emerging industry trends and showcasing a diverse array of food service products and beverages,” she said.

The event was by invitation-only and designed to cater to the needs and in-

terests of B2B clientele seeking to stay at the forefront of culinary innovation.

“Our invite list included locally esteemed chefs, restaurant owners, discerning hoteliers, and key decisionmakers within the industry,” said De’Shay.

“What sets our showcase apart is its unwavering focus on excellence and innovation in the culinary realm. We provide a curated environment where chefs can shine, industry trends are spotlighted, and opportunities for professional growth abound. From captivating chef competitions to an extensive showcase of international food and beverage vendors, attendees can expect a truly immersive experience that celebrates the artistry of food and drink.”

During the competition segment, local chefs took centre stage in a mystery basket competition. These culinary experts showcased their skills in real-time, “captivating their peers and pushing the boundaries of their creativity.”

“The centrepiece of the showcase is the highly anticipated chef competition, featuring a thrilling mystery basket

challenge focused on the centre of the plate. This dynamic competition allowed chefs to showcase their culinary prowess on a prestigious stage, captivating their peers and industry insiders alike. Additionally, our showcase featured a diverse lineup of international food and beverage vendors, presenting a wide array of innovative products and beverages,” said De’Shay.

Heather Hodgson-Kosoy

She has adopted the Bahamas as her new home and is eager to give back to the local community in a unique way. The Canadian actress and producer tells Cara Hunt about staging the ‘Screwball Comedy’ play this month at Atlantis to raise money for three worthy causes.

Canadian actress Heather Hodgson-Kosoy is excited to bring the hit play by Norm Foster, “Screwball Comedy”, to Atlantis for a performance that she promises will not only feed the soul, but also people in need.

Heather is no stranger to the Bahamas, having followed her heart to these islands after she met her husband, David, back in 2014 while he was vacationing in Canada. She also co-produced “The Love List” with Atlantis, a comedy that sold out nightly during its run in 2019.

And last year, she successfully produced and starred in Norm Foster’s “The Long Weekend” alongside noted local actor D Sean Nottage; also staged at Atlantis for three worthy causes: the Bahamas Feeding Network, Bahamas National Trust and Lend A Hand.”

Prior to moving here, she performed in theaters across Canada, as well as in several films and television shows, including a recurring role on the hit show “Meet the Family” and the short film “Pink”.

Norm Foster is a renowned Canadian playwright who has almost 80 plays to his credit, including such hits as “Bedtime Stories”, “Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun”, “Storm Warning”, “Skin Flick”, “Hilda’s Yard”, and “Here on the Flight Path,

And Heather she is treating audiences here in the Bahamas to another Foster play, “Screwball Comedy”. Set in 1938, the story centres around newly laid-off perfumier Mary Hayes

who is trying to break into the maledominated world of newspaper reporting.

She barges into the offices of EditorIn-Chief Bosco Godfrey who is reading the riot act to his star reporter Jeff Kincaid. Fed up with Jeff’s indigent ways and lacklustre performance, Bosco sets a competition between the seasoned reporter and Mary to cover a society wedding. If Jeff writes up to snuff, he gets to keep his job. If Mary wins, she gets to replace him.

Heather told Tribune Weekend she chose the play simply because “it is hilarious.”

“I laughed reading every single page and I also love that it is set in the 1930s and the way that all the characters are just so over the top. I really like the banter between the characters. We each play several roles and it is all done in these over-the-top 1930s caricatures, but it is still a very simple story that I think people will enjoy,” she said.

Heather will once again team up with actors D Sean Nottage and Stephen Sparks from “The Long Weekend” production and newcomer Maria Dinn.

“Everyone got the script back in December and then we hit the ground running and started rehearsals last month with everyone being off book (meaning that they came to rehearsals knowing all of their lines),” she said.

“It is a short window to prepare,” she admitted, “but the cast is ready and working extremely hard at daily rehearsals to ensure that they will be ready for the performance.”

And just as was the case with “The Long Weekend”, the nine-performance run of “Screwball Comedy” will feature a charitable component, with part proceeds being donated to the Bahamas National Trust, Lend a Hand, the Bahamas Feeding Network and the Ranfurly Homes for Children.

“I am so fortunate in life, being able to use my skills on stage to bring laughter to audiences and at the same time, in some small way, to bring relief to those in need. In both instances they make life a little brighter whether in a theatre chuckling or at the receiving

end of a food distribution,” said the Bahamian resident.

Heather admits it’s an easy way for her to give back to her adopted home.

“I would love to volunteer, but I would honesty be horrible at it because I am just really unreliable because of my hetic schedule, where I have to go out of town for long periods with short notice. This is the best way for me to give back,” she explained.

The recipient organisations that have been selected were a “no-brainer”, she added.

“When my husband and I got mar-

ried we asked for donations to the Ranfurly Home in lieu of gifts, so it has always been special to me.”

For first-time beneficiary Ranfurly Homes for Children, the donation will help to fill a gap the home faces monthly to cover food and electricity costs. Some 80 percent of Ranfurly’s operating revenue comes from the local community.

“We are absolutely delighted and honoured to be a part of this. It’s wonderful that they are able to raise money and give to local charities,” said Joey Premock, president of the home.

Ranfurly is completing a long-awaited transition home for those who have nowhere to stay and no family to turn to once they leave high school and are no longer able to stay at the place they have called home for their teen years.

Heather said the beauty of the country has to be conserved and the Bahamas National Trust does a great job with that, which was why she wanted to support that organisation.

And she noted the extremely important role organisations such as Lend a Hand and the Bahamas and the Feeding Network play in ensuring people do not go hungry.

“One of the things that became clear during COVID, when the Prime Minister suggested that people go to the grocery store on a weekly rotation, is that that is sometimes just not feasible, because people may not have enough money to stock up on a weekly

this weekend in history

April 12

basis; they only enough have money to get them through the day. There is a desperate need for assistance and unfortunately the donations have had to be decreased from $50 to $11, which does not go far at all,” she said.

“Last year’s event was such a treat,” said Director of Lend a Hand Bahamas Shelagh Pritchard. “We were so appreciative of the efforts and proceeds. I and many others are looking forward to enjoying a fun evening filled with laughter.”

The Bahamas National Trust’s

April 13

Executive Director Lakeshia Anderson also expressed “heartfelt thanks and appreciation for again selecting BNT as one of the charitable organisations.”

And Bahamas Feeding Network’s Executive Director Nicolette Archer pledged the volunteer-led organisation’s complete support, describing conditions post-COVID as “more challenging than ever before, with hunger continuing at a pace faster than donations can match despite rising employment figures.”

“We are extremely grateful for the

A SCENE from “Screwball Comedy”, (l-r) Stephen Sparks, Heather Hodgson-Kosoy, D Sean Nottage and Maria Dinn

continuing support as we face challenges and try to stretch our food parcels more every month,” she said.

Sterling Global Financial, Sterling Hurricane Hole, Island Site Development and 2Hoops Productions return as Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsors for the production.

“Screwball Comedy” will be performed at the Atlantis Theatre, Paradise Island. The nine-night event will run April 11-14 and 16-20. The play starts at 7.30pm nightly; doors open at 6.45pm.

SIDNEY Poitier holds up his Oscar

Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here?

In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in S permitted.

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Proof, 4 Devious, 8 Pad, 9 In essence, 10 Laconic, 11 Turin, 13 Rookie, 15 Broach, 18 Split, 19 Crammed, 21 By degrees, 23 Coo, 24 Remorse, 25 Abyss.

Down: 1 Popular, 2 Old school, 3 Feign, 4 Drench, 5 Visitor, 6 Own, 7 Sheen, 12 Real McCoy, 14 Integer, 16 Hideous, 17 Accede, 18 Sober, 20 At sea, 22 Dim.

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

Solution tomorrow

THE ALPHABEATER

CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid number represents a letter – or black square. As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. The grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down.

Solution tomorrow

LOUDMOUTH dolt doom doth hold holm holt hood hoodlum hoot loom loot loth loud LOUDMOUTH lout ludo molto mood moot moth mould moult mouth outdo thou told tolu tool

Across: Disgust, Ungodly, Pasta, Bucket, Stew, Vouch, Unite, Rate, Orderly.

Down: Afraid, Hazelnut, Gossamer, Foster, Juncture, Maybe, Tasked

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual operator rate

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Across: 1 Whale, 4 Eyesore, 8 Nil, 9 Rebounded, 10 Sincere, 11 Apple, 13 Radish, 15 Hearse, 18 Greta, 19 Analyst, 21 Maladroit, 23 Ida, 24 Andante, 25 Clews.

Down: 1 Windsor, 2 All on edge, 3 Eerie, 4 Emblem, 5 Educate, 6 Odd, 7 Endue, 12 Party line, 14 Stand-in, 16 Entraps, 17 Parole, 18 Gemma, 20 Attic, 22 Led.

EASY PUZZLE

pageants

A bevy of beauties

The Miss Bahamas Universe 2024 pageant will feature ten contestants from all walks of the social strata vying for the coveted title and crown.

The theme for this year’s pageant is “Destination Bahamas”. The objective is to remain in line with the Ministry of Tourism’s campaign that “tourism is everybody’s business”.

Each contestant in this year’s pageant will promote and highlight an island destination.

This year’s contestants are Alexandria Pinder for New Providence with a platform of ‘Therapy Heels Heal’; Merachan Burrows for Paradise Island; Tanya Knowles for Exuma with a platform of ‘Mental Health Matters’; Brenique Major for Long Island with a platform of ‘Body Positivity’; Chelsea Cooper for Abaco with a platform of ‘Disability Awareness’; Jerell Strachan for Grand Bahama; JeffRia Lunn of Cat Island with the platform of ‘Bold Bahamian’; Lovena Blanc for Bimini with a platform of ‘Promoting Health and Fitness’; Selvinique Wright for Andros with a platform of ‘Women’s Health - Us First’, and Daniella Dorsett for Acklins with a platform of ‘Breaking the Silence on Suicide’.

The winner will represent the Bahamas in Mexico at the 73rd Miss Universe competition this Winter.

The first opportunity to see and meet this bevy of beauties was at last weekend’s official contest debut at the Rosewood Baha Mar.

The 10-week MBU Empowerment Programme for young women (18 years and older) has attracted a plethora of professional contestants who view the Miss Universe Bahamas pageant as an opportunity to promote their personal passion projects, and in some cases, their own professional endeavours.

The first process for eligibility took place four weeks ago during the official screening for those meeting the application deadline.

Most recently, the final delegates were glammed-up for their official pageant photo shoot with renowned fashion photographer Deval Kirky of Exposure Photography.

Contestants attended the Palm Sunday church service at Evangelistic Temple Collins Avenue. The ladies later enjoyed lunch at the British Colonial Hotel. The weeklong pageant activities and festivities were designed to present the contestants to the public as well as to assist in getting which-

ever candidate wins ready for the experience of a lifetime.

Miss Bahamas Universe runner-up for 2023/24 Taja Hudson recently officially assumed the role and title.

As is customary in pageantry, in the event the reigning queen is not able to fulfil her duties or steps down, the first runner-up receives the title.

“We are excited to work with Taja in the lead-up to the coronation of a new standard bearer,” said Anthony Smith president and national pageant director.

“Thus far Miss Hudson has been a part of the new contestant orientation session and was able to share her experiences and her platform as a multilinguistic teacher, encouraging all of us to speak more than one language so that we are not limiting ourselves.”

Aleia Collymore, public relations officer for the MBUO, said Taja’s positivity and cultured demeanor is “a breath of fresh air and something that we have come to appreciate and love.”

“We are excited to see the contestants enjoying Miss Hudson’s presence and leadership as well,” she said.

The grand finale for the pageant is slated for Sunday, May 12, at the Atlantis Paradise Island Showroom. Tickets are on sale and are available from your favourite contestant or at Signature Styles, Marathon Road.

MISS Long Island Brenique Major

MISS Abaco Chelsea Cooper

MISS Acklins Daniella Dorsette

MISS Andros Sylvinique Wright

MISS Bimini Lovena Blanc

MISS Cat Island JeffRia Lunn

MISS Exuma Tanya Knowles

MISS Grand Bahama Jerell Strachan

MISS New Providence Alexandria Pinder

MISS Paradise Island Marechan Burrows

Adventures with the sisterhood

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

“Get ready to vacation harder” is the motto of Sandy Campbell, who has made it her mission to help women have the time of their lives while travelling to far-flung places.

Gone are the days where certain dream trips have to be deferred because you don’t have anyone to travel the world with.

Through her Sandy’s Suitcase travelling company, this Bahamian entrepreneur offers like-minded travelling buddies to women in search of one-of-a-kind experiences. From Columbia to Qatar, Austria to Ghana, over the years Sandy’s love for travel has literally taken her around the world.

“A lot of people don’t know this, but I started travelling for work. My love of travel grew roots on the

ocean-going liners. I have lived and worked on 1,100-foot vessels that have propelled me from country to country in the Middle East, Asia and Europe,” said Sandy, who is a certified Merchant Mariner.

“I studied Navigation and Marine transportation at SUNY Maritime College in New York where I gained my Master’s degree and certification as a Merchant Mariner. I have always loved the water, so this career path was such an easy fit. I have navigated the world’s largest gas tankers and visited over 60 countries,” she told Tribune Weekend.

While she certainly covered great distances and visited many different countries, Sandy said she only ever had a few short days to explore those locations and was only scraping the surface of their cultures.

She vowed to come back one day to fully explore what all these places had to offer.

“Being a woman in a male-dominated industry, I am no stranger to taking on challenges and breaking down barriers. What’s really im-

portant to me now is giving people who want to get their feet wet in the travelling pool the resources they need to do that,” said Sandy.

She began blogging about her more extensive and immersive travels and inspired others to go out and see the world. This led to her eventually founding Sandy’s Suitcase, a boutique company that provides travel consulting services. As a travel coach, Sandy also hosts group trips around the world.

“Before I started working onboard commercial vessels, the furthest I had travelled was Orlando with family. So not only did I get to travel the world, but I learned independence and that was priceless,” she said.

“Everyone who follows me on social media now knows that my favourite place to travel to is Greece, specifically the Greek Islands, and more specifically the island of Santorini. The pictures do not do it justice. It’s absolutely gorgeous and awe-inspiring. The white-washed buildings and blue domes are

exactly the way we see them on Instagram. There is beautiful architecture, amazing food and fascinating history. I have been to Greece now five times and I am already planning a return trip.”

The Suitcase Squad, she explained, are a group of professional women who love travelling and experiencing new things.

“We go on group trips throughout the year, and the great thing is, you can come solo. You don’t have to have anyone to travel with as these trips are designed to bring together like-minded women,” she said.

“You know how when you first start planning a trip and everyone is excited and you set up a group chat and everyone is bouncing around ideas. And then once it’s time to make the trip’s deposit everyone gets quiet? And the trip eventually gets cancelled, or only two people end up going? We have remedied that by allowing you to join a group of women who are passionate about seeing the world and you can rest

assured this trip will make it out of the group chat.”

She said the Suitcase Squad was designed to expose women to culture and cuisines of international destinations, while letting them enjoy the thrill of exploring a new country.

It’s Sandy’s goal to show women how to put themselves first, and to know that it is possible to have a family, career and business and still see the world.

“Whether you’re an adventure traveller, a foodie, cultural traveller or spa aficionado like myself, there is something for each taste, and each trip is curated as if I were planning my own: bougie and over the top,” she said.

“I meet so many women whose friends are not able to travel with them, whether it be financial reasons, work commitments or family obligations. We have removed that barrier by giving them built-in travel besties to travel with; other like-minded women ready to travel and see the world without having to wait on their friends or family.”

Having visited over 60 countries thus far, Sandy said the most notable locations for her were Ghana, Nigeria, Turkey and Czech Republic.

“The thing about my group trips is that you’re not bombarded with activities. Yes, you are given a formal itinerary, but you can do as much or as little as you like. It’s your trip and you can enjoy it anyway you see fit,” she said.

When asked what travelling has personally taught her, Sandy emphasised once more that she has learned to be independent.

“I have had to lean into myself and find my inner strength a number of times, especially because I mainly travel solo. I have been to emergency rooms in South America, had my camera stolen in Europe, been pickpocketed in Paris and had racial slurs screamed at me in Ireland. Each time I’ve been by myself and had to deal with it head on. It has taught me that I’m a lot stronger than I give myself credit for,” she said.

“My most recent adventure was celebrating my birthday in the Maldives. It’s funny, I had a captain who told me about the Maldives some 15 years ago and it stuck with me. I always told myself I would go there one day, and for my 40th birthday I made it a reality.”

“Ghana was a real eye-opener: the vibrant culture, the markets, the art. Travelling to Africa many years ago I had pre-conceived notions about what it would be like. Then I landed in the Motherland and it was amazing. The women are beautiful and stylish. The men are dapper. The geography had me in awe. While the continent does have its challenges, the lure, energy and beauty keeps me going back. I am taking a group to South Africa in November of this year,” she said.

Asked why creating a platform like Sandy’s Suitcase was so important to her, she had more answer: representation. Sandy believes it is important for people to see others who look like they do travelling the world at leisure.

“I recently came back from Cartagena with a group of amazing ladies and the feedback was phenomenal.

They have told their friends about it, their families and their co-workers. They have sent me so many referrals. And several of them have booked another trip with me for later in the year.

That in itself made me proud that the work I am doing is connecting with women in a meaningful way,” she said.

For those with a desire to travel, but are afraid to travel too far, Sandy said group trips are the perfect solution.

To keep up with the Sandy’s Suitcase, follow on the company on Instagram: @sandyssuitcase and @thesuitcasesquad; on Facebook: Sandy’s Suitcase; YouTube: Sandy’s Suitcase, and visit the website: www.sandyssuitcase.com.

SANDY Campbell all decked out for cooler weather at London’s famous Tower Bridge SANDY Campbell is the star of a photo shoot in Turkey SANDY Campbell

House of Rastafari hosts fashion show and tea party

The Empress Menen Royal Fashion Show and Tea Party brought out the best in African-themed fashion and design, inspiring the scores of attendees who turned out to enjoy the special event.

The chief designer was Empress Veronica “Ronnie” Ellis of Freeport, Grand Bahama, who wowed the crowd with more than 30 unique creations for men, women and children that she created for the event.

The showstoppers included “pop tart” designs that Empress Ronnie

made from juice and soda can tops. The can tops were crocheted with a silky yarn that allowed the unique garments to hug the models’ curves and move and flow as they walked. The pop tart outfits were paired with purses and pouches also made from the can tops.

The empresses of the House of Rastafari, hosts of the event, did not disappoint. One by one, they modelled colourful dresses, two-pieces, and elaborate headwraps designed by Empress Ronie, as well as Empress Tecla Smith.

Empress Nadia Bethel designed

necklaces, bracelets and crowns from copper and crystals that accentuated the outfits.

The event was held under the theme: “Honouring our Empresses within the African Diaspora”.

After the fashion show and tea party, 13 awardees were honoured. Princesses dressed in Empress Ronnie’s designs, under her brand “Empress Palace”, dropped petals as the honorees paraded by.

Empress Marilyn Braynen opened the event with a libation of honey and water to honour the ancestors. Empress Darise recited her poem entitled “Woman”, and Empress Dr Novia Carter-Lookie gave the vote of thanks. The event’s emcees were Ras Copeland Smith and Empress Felicity Darville.

The Empress Menen Fashion Show and Tea Party was held at the Castle,

Westridge, Nassau, Bahamas. Several mansions of rastafari participated, and Minister of Education, Technical and Vocational Training Glenys Hanna Martin gave the keynote address.

Dyson Knight has reevaluated his life and wants listeners to feel the magic

initially the plan, things changed when Dyson decided to take part in his college’s competition.

the Lulo Music Group.

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN artist Dyson Knight has been flying under the radar in recent times, but now he’s back on the scene with new music which is already winning him prizes.

a Music Production and Engineering programme.

Dyson said he has experienced a lot over the recent years; incidents which brought him to his current place in life.

“Feeling the Magic” is the latest release from the singer-songwriter who said he remains dedicated to making music that captivates audiences.

The Grammy Award-winning Baha Men member created the new song for a competition presented by the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) in Canada, where he is now enrolled in

“I went through a series of challenges post a near fatal car crash in 2021. I felt a strong need to reevaluate my life. One of the things I wanted to act on is my transition from being a frontline singer of Baha Men to taking a role as an engineer/producer/manager of the band. So, although daunting, I decided to move to Canada to study Music Production and Audio Engineering at NSCC in Dartmouth. I ultimately chose this school because it allows me to be with my older children who live in Halifax,” he said.

“This release of (‘Feeling the Magic’) came out of a contest held every year by the Music Department at NSCC. The Producer Challenge is a competition in which Music Production students are divided into teams tasked with writing and recording a song in one week,” he explained.

The songs, he said, are then evaluated and judged by a panel of local music industry people, and this year’s first place song was then commercially released by NSCC’s Music Business class.

Although keeping a low profile was

The Music Business programme offered at the Ivany Campus in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is a graduate certificate programme led by industry veteran Evan Newman. It began last year, and the inaugural class launched

The team of producers of this year’s contest, which included Dyson, won the contest with the song “Feeling the Magic”. It was written and sang by Dyson, and because the finished product was a collaborative effort among students, it nudged the Bahamian artist to explore avenues outside of Caribbean pop, a genre which has mainly been his calling card.

The song represents a change of style, but is still a reflection of his continued dedication to creating captivating music. The song is an upbeat funk-disco track with an infectious bass line that invites listeners to dance. The lyrics have an encouraging and optimistic message.

While he remains in Canada, Dyson said he will manage his music endeavours as well as his music education.

Literary lives - Tom Cruise

Hollywood’s last movie star Part I

Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the American actor and producer whose flms have grossed over four billion dollars in North America, and over 11.5 billion dollars worldwide, making him one of the highestgrossing box-offce stars of all time

“Do I make mistakes? Yeah. I love what I do. I take great pride in what I do. And I can’t do something halfway, three-quarters, nine-tenths. If I’m going to do something, I go all the way.”

- Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962, in Syracuse, New York, to electrical engineer Thomas Cruise Mapother III, and special education teacher Mary Lee Pfeiffer – both from Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up in near poverty and described his father as a “merchant of chaos, a bully and a coward” who beat his children. Cruise’s father died of cancer in 1984.

Cruise attended fourteen schools in fifteen years, and spent part of his childhood in Canada when his father took a job as a defence consultant with the Canadian Armed Forces. His mother divorced his father in 1974, taking Cruise and his sisters back to the United States.

Having received a Catholic Church scholarship, Cruise attended the St Francis Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. He aspired to become a Franciscan priest before leaving after a year for “taking liquor”. He played football for the varsity team but was cut from the squad for drinking beer before a game. After starring in the school’s production

of Guys and Dolls he graduated from Glen Ridge High School in Glen Ridge, New Jersey in 1980.

He was eighteen years old and, with his mother’s approval, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. He worked as a busboy before going to Los Angeles to work in television. He got a bit part in the movie Endless Love (1981), followed by Taps later that year, Outsiders (1983), All the Right Moves (1983), and Risky Business (1983) – a career maker for Tom Cruise. Ridley Scott’s Legend was released in 1985, and by 1986 and Top Gun his status as a superstar had been established. He played opposite Paul Newman in The Colour of Money (1986) and starred with Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man, which won the Academy Award for Best Film, and in 1989 played a paralysed Vietnam War veteran in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July.

“Nothing Cruise has done will prepare you for what he does in ‘Born on the Fourth of July’ … His performance is so good that the movie lives through it. Stone is able to make a statement with Cruise’s face and voice and doesn’t need to put everything into the dialogue.

- Roger Ebert Chicago Sun Times

The performance earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor; the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor; the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Motion Picture Actor; a nomination for BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role; and Cruise’s first Best Actor Academy Award nomination.

Cruise’s next films were Days of Thunder (1990) and Far and Away, both of which starred then-wife Nicole Kidman, followed by the legal thriller The Firm

– a critical and commercial success. In 1994 Cruise starred with Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas and Christian Slater in Neil Jordan’s Interview with the Vampire, a gothic drama based on Anne Rice’s bestselling novel. In 1996 Cruise starred as superspy Ethan Hunt in the reboot of Mission Impossible, which he produced. Directed by Brian De Palma it was a box-office success.

“Tom Cruise has found the perfect superhero character on which to graft his breathlessly gung-ho screen personality.”

- Stephen Holden

The New York Times

Also in 1996, Cruise played a sports agent opposite Renee Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr in Jerry Maguire. The film was a massive financial success with Cruise earning a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and his second nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

In 1999, Cruise starred again with Nicole Kidman in Stanley Kubrick’s erotic and psychological drama Eyes Wide Shut. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian praised both stars on their performances, and continued: “Cruise in particular lays himself open in that fiercely committed way he tries everything as an actor.”

That same year he took a rare supporting role as a motivated speaker, Frank TJ Mackey, in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia (1999).

“Cruise is a revelation, fully deserving of the shower of superlatives coming his way … Cruise seethes with the chaotic energy of a wounded animal – he’s devastating.”

- Peter Travers Film Editor Rolling Stone

For his performance

Cruise received another Golden Globe and nomination

CRUISE as a child

for an Academy Award.

In 2000, Cruise returned as Ethan Hunt in the second instalment of the Mission Impossible feature Mission Impossible 2. The film was headed by Hong Kong director John Woo and branded with his gun fu style. It was again enormously successful at the box-office, taking $547 million worldwide. It was the highest grossing film of the year, but it had a mixed critical reception. He received an MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance in the film.

His next five films were critical and commercial successes. The following year Cruise starred in the romantic thriller Vanilla Sky (2001) with Cameron Diaz and Penélope Cruz.

In 2002, Cruise starred in the dystopian science fiction action film Minority Report directed by Steven Spielberg. Following this he starred in Edward Zwick’s period drama The Last Samurai and received another Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. The next year he was widely acclaimed for his performance as Vincent in Collateral.

“Driven by director Michael Mann’s trademark visuals, and a lean villainous performance from Tom Cruise, ‘Collateral’ is a stylish and compelling noir thriller.”

- Critical consensus Hollywood Reporter

for Cruise, where he played the fictional character Stacee Jaxx.

CRUISE as Sgt Ron Kovic in Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

“Trust me … I never lose. Either I win or learn from it.”

- Tom Cruise

Nevertheless, Justin Chang –Variety’s film critic wrote:“Channelling the likes of Axl Rose and Keith Richards with his tattoos, heavy furs and even heavy eyeshadow, Cruise relished the opportunity to play against type – even as he sends up the world’s biggestmovie-star identity, displaying a Cock-ofThe-Rock stunt that viewers haven’t seen since his turn in ‘Magnolia’.”

Cruise worked again with Stephen Spielberg in War of the Worlds (2005) –the H.G. Wells novel of the same name. It became the fourth highest-grossing film of the year with $591.4 million worldwide. He was a nominee for the People’s Choice Award for Favourite Male Movie Star, and the winner of the MTV Generation Award. Cruise was nominated for seven Saturn Awards between 2002 and 2009, winning once. Nine of the ten films he starred in during the decade made over $100 million at the box-office.

In 2006, Cruise returned again to his role as Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible III. As expected the film was more positively received by critics than the other two films in the series and grossed nearly $400 million at the box-office. In 2007 Cruise took a rare

supporting role in Lions for Lambs – a commercial disappointment; and then an unrecognisable appearance as “Les Grossman” in Tropic Thunder (2008) with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr, and earned Cruise a Golden Globe nomination. Cruise played a central role in the historical thriller Valkyrie on December 25, 2008, to box-office success.

Knight and Day (2010) was made by Cruise with co-star Cameron Diaz, before he made the fourth instalment of Mission Impossible series: Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) –Cruise’s biggest commercial success to date. Rock of Ages (2012) was released in June 2012 – a disappointing misstep

In May 2020, Cruise reported that he would be starring in a movie that would be shot in outer space, and that Doug Liman would be directing, writing, and co-producing the film. He said that both of them would be flying to the International Space Station as part of a future Axion Space mission. It was an intriguing idea – but nothing more was heard of it.

Two years later he reprised his role as Captain Pete “Maverick” in Top Gun: Maverick, which he also produced. The film was released to widespread critical acclaim, and broke several box office records, earning over $1 billion – by far the highest grossing film of his career. He himself earned over $100 million for the film – an extraordinary achievement.

The following year he again performed the role of Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part

One on July 12, 2023, and while being a financial success was disappointing at the box-office – mainly due to the competitive release of Christopher Nolan’s historical epic Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy Barbie.

“Cruise is one of the most powerful –and richest – forces in Hollywood.”

Cruise’s next three films One Shot (2012); Oblivion (2013); and Edge of Tomorrow (2014) all grossed between $200 million and $400 million, and all received positive reviews. He was a money machine. In 2015 he returned in the fifth instalment of Mission Impossible, this time in Mission Impossible –Rogue Nation, which he also produced. It was another critical and commercial success and received high critical acclaim, but was followed by a reboot of the 1932 Boris Karloff horror film The Mummy – using the same name. It flopped, but he had already reprised Ethan Hunt in the sixth film in his franchise Mission Impossible – Fallout. Positively received, it grossed over $791 million and was Cruise’s biggest commercial success to date. He was unstoppable.

- Edward Jay Epstein Hollywood Economist

He continued to argue that Cruise was one of the few producers (the others being George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer) who are regarded as able to guarantee the success of a billion-dollar film franchise. Epstein also contends that the public obsession with Cruise’s tabloid controversies obscures full appreciation of Cruise’s exceptional commercial prowess.

However, his personal life was not above criticism.

Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia.

CRUISE as Lt Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun (1986)

What to stream this week: Billy Joel sings, Dora explores and ‘Food, Inc. 2’ chows down

By The Associated Press

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

— Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal play cowboys and former lovers in Pedro Almodóvar’s “Strange Way of Life,” his 31-minute Western streaming on Netflix starting Sunday, April 14. At the film’s Cannes premiere last year, Almodóvar, who famously turned down the opportunity to direct “Brokeback Mountain,” said unlike the characters in that movie, he imagined these guys were really gunslingers in the vein of “The Wild Bunch.”

— Sixteen years after “Food, Inc.” changed the way many think about where their food comes from, filmmakers Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo reunited with “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” author Michael Pollan and “Fast Food Nation” writer Eric Schlosser to take another look at the current state of food in the U.S. With a special focus on the rights of farmworkers and the downsides of corporate consolidation and ultra-processed foods, “Food, Inc. 2” will be available on VOD starting today.

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bah

r

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— There is peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, peace and love, and Billy Joel and Madison Square Garden. Some things just go together. Joel and MSG have long been synonymous; he’s sold out more shows than any other performer at the famed venue, first performing there in 1978. To celebrate his triumphant run, a new concert special, “The 100th: Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden — The Greatest Arena Run of All Time,” will air on CBS on Sunday, April 14 at 9pm Eastern/ Pacific. It was filmed at Joel’s 100th con-

secutive performance at Madison Square Garden just a few days ago — March 28.

— Rhiannon Giddens’ music and scholarship has highlighted the contributions of Black Americans in folk and country. That work continues on “The Ballad of Sally Anne,” a remarkable Alice Randall cover and choice cut from the forthcoming covers compilation “My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall.” Randall is the author of a new book also titled “My Black Country” and the first Black woman to write a country No 1 hit in Trisha Yearwood’s “XXX’s and OOO’s (An American Girl).” This compilation celebrates her legacy. Other contributors to the album include Leyla McCalla, Valerie June, Rissi Palmer, and many other Black female country performers working to evolve the genre.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman

NEW SHOWS TO STREAM

— Dating expert Patti Stanger has a new TV show called “Patti Stanger: The Matchmaker” where she once again helps single people looking for love. On this show, Stanger teams up with former “Bachelor” Nick Viall, who was also rejected twice on “The Bachelorette” — he knows a thing or two about the ups and downs of dating. In each episode, the duo gives clients tips, tricks and brutal honesty to help them become truly ready to find a partner. The show premieres on The CW and also streams on The CW app.

— “Dora the Explorer” debuted in 2000 as a groundbreaking, award-winning children’s show about an adventurous young Latina. The character returns in a new CG animated series called “Dora”. She’s still got her purple backpack and sidekick monkey named Boots, but this “Dora” has evolved with the times. Dora has family from Peru, Mexico and Cuba, and the show celebrates a variety of Latin culture including music, folklore, architecture and food.

— HBO has adapted the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen into a new series of the same name. It follows a North Vietnam plant known as the Captain (played by Hoa Xuande) in the South Vietnam army who flees to the United States when the Vietnam War is ending. The Captain lives among South Vietnamese refugees and continues to spy on the community by reporting back to the Viet Cong. This leads to struggles as the Captain attempts to build a new life. Recent Oscar winner Robert Downey Jr plays multiple roles. “The Sympathizer” premieres Sunday, April

— Alicia Rancilio

NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY

— Ever since Baldur’s Gate III took the gaming world by storm last year, players have been wondering: Where can I get more of this? Australian studio Drop Bear Bytes is hoping to scratch that itch with Broken Roads, citing classic role-playing adventures like Fallout, Wasteland and, yes, Baldur’s Gate as inspiration. Set in a postapocalyptic Outback, Broken Roads leans heavily into its “Moral Compass,” with options that reflect four different philosophies: utilitarianism, nihilism, Machiavellianism and humanism. The developers, led by a veteran of the landmark RPG Planescape: Torment, promise you’ll be forced to make tough choices as your team explores the desolate continent. It’s on PlayStation 5/4, Xbox X/S/One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

14 on HBO and streams on Max.

After OP ‘24 success, focus shifts to smaller and more effective clinics

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

When I look back at Operation Potcake ’24, I think it’s just about impossible to judge it one dimensionally. Clearly, the first enormous achievement is the fact that we spayed and neutered 2,253 animals. Just think how many unwanted and unloved animals will never be born or have to face miserable lives and abusive conditions.

We have learned a great deal from this very large campaign. We know what we would like to do in future that will make it easier.

Dealing with, housing, feeding and moving 115 foreign volunteers for 10 days was a mammoth task. The set-up by the visiting vets was not quite as fluid and quick as we had hoped. An unfortunate stumbling block was the reluctance of the Bahamian owners to bring in their own animals, so we had a lot more pick-up and drop-off, and many conversations to persuade them to neuter or spay. We did conduct walkabouts in the five areas where we had our clinics and had a large number of radio show and TV show interviews.

It is difficult to impress upon people that spaying and neutering can improve an animal’s life when they are convinced that all females should experience motherhood and that male dogs will miss having an active “love” life. Dogs and cats do

not have the same expectations of life as we do.

Little girl puppies do not dream of being brides, and little boy puppies do not wishfully flip through the canine version of Playboy (Playpup?) magazine. It is a challenge that we must face and get people to listen, believe and act in the best interests of the animals.

After much thought and discussion, the BHS and BAARK have decided that our objective is to move forward with smaller volume clinics of skilled volunteers.

One of our thoughts is that in order to achieve small and effective clinics, we want to improve and renovate our operating suites at the shelter with new and more advanced equipment so that we can host smaller clinics right at the shelter. There are many vets wanting to come to the Bahamas and help us for free.

A big advantage to having clinics held at the shelter is that we already have all the necessary infrastructure and would not have to spend large

pet of the week

Dapper Dany

ByTHEBAHAMAS HUMANESOCIETY

Dany is one of the many beautiful potcakes available for adoption at the Bahamas Humane Society.

He’s lucky enough to be one that goes on the Wednesday/Saturday dog walks, and while still a bit nervous out in the open, he is making progress each time.

amounts on the basics such as running water, generators, electricity, security and other utilities.

Hotels were so amazingly generous to Operation Potcake; an enormous shout out to Atlantis, Towne Hotel and Breezes. It is wonderful to have such generous friends.

A huge plus was the enormous positive impact these spay and neuter clinics have made on the individual communities. We set up a tent at each location for education and had volunteers available to talk, play and teach the children. The kids also pitched in and helped carry out (age appropriate) tasks. We planted the seed of kindness in their minds and inspired them to look at a possible future in the field of animal care.

Children are extremely important in the field. Often their parents are too entrenched in negativity towards animals - “It’s just a dog, it’s dirty. Don’t touch it.”

If we can reach the young, they not only grow up to be responsible animal owners and kind to animals, but they also frequently teach the parents, and some of the parents listen.

In conclusion: We feel that OP’24 was an extremely successful project which will have a lasting effect on the animals of New Providence. I was proud to chair it, and the BHS was happy to participate and use our shelter as headquarters. The effort was enormous and the reward even greater. We cannot stop here and need to plan further clinics.

OP ’24 happened to be the first event of the year in which we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bahamas Humane Society. The

Bahamas Humane Society is the oldest existing charity in the country, established in June of 1924. We are also one of the largest, and I am told by many that we hold more fundraising events than any other charity. This year, to celebrate our 100th, we will have a minimum of one event a month to raise funds and awareness. We feel that it is essential to involve all walks of life, social and financial.

Here is a list of events for the Bahamas Humane Society 100th anniversary events:

January: Operation Potcake 2024

February: Party for the Animals (disco event in the National Trust gardens)

March: Quiz Night at Lyford Cay

Launch of the 100th anniversary memorial wall of pets

April: Scavenger hunt Membership drive

May: ‘Thank You’ luncheon for big donors

August: Family Day, beach luncheon

October: St Francis of Assisi service for the animals

Grand Raffle

November:100th Birthday Gala Ball Fashion Show

December: Santa to visit the shelter

Other events will be added during the course of the year. I will keep you posted.

Dany’s about two years old and would love a calm house with people who will be patient with him and give him time to adjust. If you’ve been looking for a quiet dog, past that puppy stage, Dany might be the right fit for you.

Come in to the BHS to meet him or call 323-5138 for more information.

Dany looks forward to meeting you.

Come and join the walkers on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You’ll get some fresh air and exercise, and

(Photo by Judy Young)

Bridal chic in the spotlight

Buttons Bridal & Formal Wear once again put on their traditional “spectacular” fashion showcase at last weekend’s 34th Bridal Show.

Under the theme “The One for Me”, the event was staged at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.

Each year, the Bridal Show offers an exciting platform for aspiring models and those wanting to gain experience in show business to model the latest in wedding fashions.

“Most of the models get to meet each other for the first time at rehearsals and become life-long friends. Some never leave the show – perform other duties later on – when their modelling days are over. They love the show,” Tommy Stubbs, the show’s producer, told Tribune Weekend.

The show’s poster couple for 2024 are Shantell Sweeting and Kyle Kerr. They joined the cast on stage during last Sunday’s fashion show.

(Photos by AF Photography)

THIS year’s poster couple, Shantell Sweeting and Kyle Kerr