02092024 WEEKEND

CELEBRITY PUZZLES GARDENING ANIMALS ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY INTERVIEW

Weekend Friday, February 9, 2024

Poised for paradise GET TO KNOW THE ACCLAIMED BALLET DUO COMING TO THE BAHAMAS FOR AN ‘ICONIQUE’ PERFORMANCE PGS 04 +05

R&B LEGENDS IN NASSAU PG 03

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 9, 2024

décor

Flirting with flowers Hand-held wrapped bouquets trend for Valentine’s Day ‘24

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

F

LOWERS make a beautiful decorative addition to any space, and that applies especially to the elaborate Valentine’s arrangements that we will seeing over the next week, said Bahamian florist Crystal Gibson, owner of Nassau’s The Flirty Flower boutique “When people look at a flower or floral arrangement, they feel something. They respond emotionally to flowers. It’s that emotional reaction that people will always pay for.

That is why flowers will allows remain a timeless gift option.”

As February 14 approaches, Cyrstal said The Flirty Flower will be offering all the latest floral trends.

“For instance, the hand-held wrapped bouquets are continuing to trend, and in a major way.

You see them on Pinterest’s boards, on TikTok videos, Instagram reels, Facebook photos.

It’s the go-to arrangement for gifting what pop culture calls ‘the girlies’. It’s a luxurious looking cluster of roses wrapped in gold trim paper. It has major aesthetic value which is why people love them. It exudes elegance and luxury,” she said.

Crystal said she enjoys keeping up with the trends, as this allows her to reach a younger clientele who are maybe just becoming interested in purchasing flowers.

She officially launched The Flirty Flower last Valentine’s Day season. The last 12 months, she said, have been amazing for her small business and she is delighted to once again be able help couple’s enhance their romantic celebrations.

“When I started on this journey, I did not know that the

people who started off as clients last Valentine’s Day would keep following us. I have had clients reach out concerning Valentine’s Day orders and say, ‘I hope I’m not late’, or ‘What do you have for Valentine’s Day this year?’ They are proactive shoppers who loved the work we created for the them,” she said.

Crystal said The Flirty Flower’s following on social media is also steadily growing.

The young florist said she is now creating arrangements that she was once too intimidated to attempt. For example, large bouquets, which are quicklu becoming her speciality.

“I created a 100-rose bouquet which is not an easy task. It’s a work-out and a technique. But after being forced to do it based on a client’s request, I took a stab at it. Now that I have accomplished it, I wanted to create it again but with a different technique just to see which method would be easier and take less time,” she said.

“I also used to shy away from bridal bouquets, but again I was forced to create it based on a client’s request. So this year has seen me take on challenges in my blooming floral career and I am excited about my continued growth and development.”

Crystal said she enjoys putting her own unique stamp on arrangements. She usually does this through customised cards or adding different ornaments or toppers to the arrangements.

“I get a buzz creating an arrangement. I get excited about creating an arrangement and making it relevant to the occasion. For example, a client wanted to gift for someone who just had a baby, a floral gift, and I added baby bottles and baby shoes to the arrangement. That added a special touch and personalised it for the occasion.

“The goal is to be consistent, keep the brand going, keep it in people’s faces and to stay memorable. The Flirty Flower will soon become a household name. When you think flowers you will think The Flirty Flower,” she promised.

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Friday, February 9, 2024

music

R&B legends Brian McKnight and Karyn White bring back the love for Bahamian audiences

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

T

o help set the mood for Valentine’s Day, R&B’s most prolific power belter Brian McKnight and the “Superwoman” herself, Karyn White, will perform for a local audience at the “Back to Love” concert on Saturday night at the Nassau Cruise Port Amphitheatre.

Presented by Alpha Sounds Promotions, the concert event is calling all lovers, and lovers of R&B music, to come out and enjoy an evening of musical romance.

Doors open at 8pm and the concert will start promptly at 9pm.

“For the last 25 years we have been putting on events for the Bahamian public that would put them in a good mood. This particular event is something that I have been wanting to do for while,” said Trevor Davis of Alpha Sounds.

“We know that the country has been dealing with a lot of civil unrest lately and we figured this is just an appropriate show for people to get back into that love mood. That is where the name came from.”

Trevor said he expects it’s going to be a grand show. He believes both performers will thoroughly entertain the crowd.

“Of course, Brian McKnight has been around for the past three decades, so has Karyn White. Brian McKnight has a large catalogue of songs that persons can identify with, as does Karyn White. She has a lot of songs that the ladies love that she became very famous for. So we are looking forward to a great night and an exciting show,” he said.

Karyn White was veery popular during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

She is known for several hit singles including “Superwoman” (1988), “Secret Rendezvous” (1989), “The Way You Love Me” (1988), and the US Hot 100 No 1 single “Romantic” (1991).

BRIAN McKnight Brian McKnight had his first hit song, “Love Is”, with Vanessa Williams. It was recorded for the Beverly Hills, 90210 soundtrack in 1993, and peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. That same year, his single “One Last Cry” peaked at number 13 on the chart and spawned from his eponymous debut studio album (1992). His 1999 single, “Back at One”, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains his highest-charting single.

His work has earned him 16 Grammy Award nominations,

KARYN White third only to Zubin Mehta and Snoop Dogg for the record of most Grammy nominations without a win.

Saturday’s “Back to Love” event will be hosted by Hope Shelly-Ann and feature entertainment by local DJs. While the two headlining artists may appeal to a more mature audience, Trevor believes there are songs by both that even younger people can relate to and enjoy.

“Young persons may not know who the artists are, but once they hear the song, they tend to say, ‘Oh, I like the song.’ It is geared towards

the older folks, but we believe there will be younger people who will come out and attend,” he said.

“The venue also lends itself to us being able to host an intimate event like this. Before, it was a struggle to have such events. Now that we have a venue like this we can take our promotions up a notch and people can come out and support.”

Trevor promises Alpha Sounds will be hosting more exciting events as the year progresses.

Tickets can be purchased at the Plantation Bar, Mini So at the Mall

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 9, 2024

interview

Lucia Lacarra and Matthew Golding These world-class dancers are partners both in life and on stage, and next week they will take the stage together here in the Bahamas for an ‘Iconique’ performance. The duo speak to Cara Hunt about how they got started in ballet and what it means to them.

L

ucia Lacarra was just three years old when she first became mesmerised by the tiny ballerina that spun around in her mother’s jewellery box.

“I would watch it all the time for hours,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Born in a small town in Spain, there were not a lot of opportunities to take dance formal lessons, until a ballet school opened near her home when she was ten years old.

Meanwhile across the world, Matthew Golding was growing up “in the middle of nowhere” in Canada and was very much into sports.

He enjoyed hip hop, pop and jazz dance, but ballet was not something that held his interest, until he began formal lessons at the age of 14. It became his passion and he was delighted to discover it could also be a path to obtaining college scholarships.

Next week, Bahamians will get to see both Lucia and Matthew in action when they perform with the renowned UK-based Covent Garden Dance Company for a special dinner gala at Old Fort Bay called “Iconique”. The duo will be joined by some of the best dancers in the world.

Lucia is considered to be one if the most iconic and talented dancers in her generation and is an Nijinsky Award-winning dancer.

Matthew is a Prix de Lausanne winner, and has danced with the LACARRA Lucia & Matthew Golding Royal Ballet, the American Ballet

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, February 9, 2024

Theatre, the Hong Kong Ballet and many other companies.

He has danced with Lucia for the last two years as guest principals around the world.

Matthew was tipped as Carlos Acosta’s successor and bestowed the nickname “the Brad Pitt of ballet”. He has taken on numerous big roles, including Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake and Fate in Carlos Acosta’s Carmen.

And while Lucia and Matthew have had the privilege of performing in the most renowned venues around the world, they both are extremely excited to perform outdoors here in the Bahamas.

“I have never been to the Bahamas, but from the pictures I have seen it looks like paradise, and so the idea of being an artist and performing outside in paradise is very exciting,” said Lucia.

Matthew added that the entire performance will be top-notch and he is excited to be a part of it.

Lucia has come a long way from that little girl who was captivated by a jewellery box, but she still understands how little girls feel watching ballet dancers.

“It is magical and beautiful; that is what we do.

We try to create magic for our audiences and so

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that’s what they see, the beautiful costumes that remind them of princesses with crowns and tutus, but being a dancer takes a lot of work and dedication. It becomes your life; the way you eat, the things you do. I could not have a normal teenage life. You spend hours and hours in practice.

The glamour you see is a perception and the few moments you see us on stage is the result of years or preparation, sacrifice and dedication,” she said.

While Lucia and Matthew have performed iconic roles in the classic ballets all over the world, being a part of the Convent Garden Dance Company has allowed them greater creativity and expression as they are able to do a variety of dances and create their own choreography.

“I think what makes this show so special is the music that we use and the choreography that we do; its a unique show,” said Matthew.

Lucia hopes they can connect with the audience.

“We want to appeal to people’s emotions. You will always remember and react more deeply to what you feel than just what you see,” she said.

Matthew and Lucia have been a couple for several years now, which means that they showcase a special connection in their performances together.

“When you are dancing, you have to have a physical connection with your partner, and so

when you have a personal connection its adds to it,” said Lucia.

“What is also nice working with Matthew is that you get to share these experiences together, for example, dancing in the Bahamas with each other.”

Matthew added that it is rare but beautiful to find a partner in life and on the stage.

“You learn when you are both put in the spotlight how to be sensitive with everyone’s emotions, and that is a beautiful thing,” he said.

The Covent Garden Dance Company has made a practice of bringing some of the world’s most iconic dancers to some of the world’s most beautiful locations.

Founded in 2006, the company combines new and established talents in the fields of production, choreography, musical composition and design to create original, engaging and entertaining work.

There will be two performance nights, on February 14 and 16. Tickets for “Iconique” are now available. All-inclusive dinner tickets start at $350 plus VAT. Those interested can e-mail events@ coventgardendance.com.

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Smudge, Blip, Bushy, Obelisk, WORDS SUMTHING Squat, Dusk,Tribune Forsake.

06 The Weekend Down: Stoker, Brood, Roam (clue), PINTA 9x4=36, 6x5=30, 3+9=12 Officers, Splinter, Vigour, Cuckoo, Emphasis, Outwards, Junk, Trend, MUDDLESOME SMALL CROSSWORD Enmity.

Staffordshire Across: 1 Spectator, 7 Tell, 8 Bribe, TV CROSSWORD West Yorkshire 10 Pit, 11 Caress, 13 Knock down, Hertfordshire Across: 1 Skins, 6 Dear, 8 Turturro, 14 Repeat, 16 Ike, 18 Lagos, 19 Echo, Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid 10 11ofClive, 12 Hayley, 15 Tree, CLOCK-WISE 20 Evergreen. is Emily, to fill all the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so with several given numbers. object is to place the 16 Ronnie, Wall, 19 Georgia, the sum of17 each horizontal block equals the number to its Down: 1The Stockpile, 2 Pecans, 3 Clue, numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each Sago, Goal, Alto, Toto, Topi, Pisa left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number 21 Lisa, 22 Penny.

4 Ark, 5 Tiptoes, 6 Retention, column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only on its top.

No 3 number may be used in the same block more Down: 2 Karl, Street, 4 Ruth, 8 Buskers, 9 Protege, 12 Swathe, once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro 5increases Following, 6 Dominic, 7 Ray, Monday to Sunday 15 Pier, 17 Nor. from Monday to Sunday.

QUIZ OF THE WEEK 9 Russell, 13 York, 14 Hannigan, 17 Will, 18 Lena, 20 One. 1 Andorra, 2 1960s, 3 Belgium, CROSS DOUBT 4 Word War II, 5 Spain, 6 Kim, TV show: Who is Erin Carter?

7 Hampshire, 8 Mary Poppins, 9 Two- Across: BLITZ roomed cottage, 10 Aconcagua.

Down: BUXOM

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charge (7) 27 Animal damaged the plane (8) 28 Lazy people using slide rule, initially (6)

21 Place of worship, either 4 1 3 2 2 side 1 of the 2 1head (6) 2 1 27 February 9, 2024 1 Discount 3 6 beer 7 4at 9 8 Friday, 22 compound 3 4 1 2 4 1 (6)2 1 2 24 Sulked on a motorbike (5) 9

TARGET

DC E SKA ANR

3 1

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● The QUICK CROSSWORD Target uses words in Across: 1 Blockade, 5 Upas, 9 Ugly, main 10 Esoteric, 11 State, 12 Itemise,the body of 13 Precious stone, 18 Attended,Chambers 19 Nigh, 20 Thistle, 21 Liner, 22 Meek, 21st Century 23 Stagnate. Down: 2 Lighter, 3 Cryptic, Dictionary 4 Disfigurement, 6 Portico, 7 Secrete, (1999 8 Stress, 13 Phantom, 14 Entwine, edition)

15 Ignite, 16 Tension, 17 Neglect.

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.

TODAY’S TARGET Good 22; very good 33; excellent 44 (or more). Solution tomorrow

CallYesterday’s 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution

Sudoku Answer *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Like an astronaut returning - or failing to get lift-off (10) 6 Cuff, sock or belt (4) 10 Be in suspense (5) 11 Lulu’s getting back into a bother - woeful sound results (9) 12 Flourish a cereal bowl (8) 13 Bird but not birdie (5) 15 Insect swallows fruit for nourishment (7) 17 Place is made over in particular style (7) 19 Warm garment for one working in the heat (7) 21 Stops bringing leaves off (7) 22 Dressin’ the bird (5) 24 Introduction before a stroll?

(8) 27 Reveals that the record fails (9) 28 Walked out after initial clash and split (5) 29 A form of need where there was none (4) 30 Service chief? (4,6)

1

2

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4

Down 1 Male chorus gives an encore (4) 2 Location for a bank holiday? (9) 3 Long-legged bird or hen perhaps (5) 4 He makes a practice of seeing complaints (7) 5 They count for nothing (7) 7 Prone to being deceitful (5) 8 New dawn over Ulster let loose urge to go places (10) 9 Undistinguished collection of salesmen (8) 14 It’s played with variations on strings (4,6) 16 Snare ten squirming fish (8) 18 Broke nine volts circuit (9) 20 Sally rips toe badly (7) 21 Got into gear? (7) 23 Cook beats a mixture (5) 25 Doctor has endless discussion after coffee (5) 26 Uproar in prison (4)

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Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 In-depth, 5 Pupil, 8 On display, 9 Arc, 10 Yawn, 12 Judicial, 14 Gallic, 15 Luxury, 17 Implicit, 18 Herb, 21 Paw, 22 As regards, 24 Early, 25 Suggest.

Down: 1 Ivory, 2 Dud, 3 Pose, 4 Hold up, 5 Physique, 6 Platitude, 7 Locally, 11 Willpower, 13 Military, 14 Glimpse, 16 Tigris, 19 Beset, 20 Agog, 23 Rye.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Omnibus, 5 Lasso, 8 Androcles, 9 Ibo, 10 Sock, 12 Achilles, 14 Frappe, 15 Egoism, 17 Articles, 18 Weep, 21 Gem, 22 Reminisce, 24 Danes, 25 Notepad.

Down: 1 Ovals, 2 Nod, 3 Boom, 4 Select, 5 Lashings, 6 Still life, 7 Opossum, 11 Craftsman, 13 Epicures, 14 Flanged, 16 Key man, 19 Plead, 20 Unit, 23 Sop.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 As an estimate (4,2,4) 6 Accordingly (4) 10 Wash with clean water (5) 11 Notes made for future use (9) 12 First-rate (3-5) 13 Choose (5) 15 Black and white in patches (7) 17 Blatant lie (7) 19 Bade (7) 21 Sitting of a public body (7) 22 Sudden convulsive movement (5) 24 Spendthrift (8) 27 Mistaken (9) 28 Porcelain (5) 29 Two-masted sailing boat (4) 30 Inviolable (10)

Down 1 A founder of communism (4) 2 To degenerate (3,2,4) 3 Vast expanse of sea (5) 4 Finite (7) 5 One way or another (7) 7 Depend (5) 8 Slight superficial knowledge (10) 9 Causing suffering (8) 14 Furniture fabric, springs, stuffing etc. (10) 16 Bitterness of feeling (8) 18 Lack of life’s necessities (9) 20 An educational certificate (7) 21 A surety (7) 23 Direction indicator (5) 25 Ancient Peruvian people (5) 26 Insincere moral talk (4)

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 1

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1 x Battleship 2 x Cruiser

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3 x Destroyer 4 x Submarine

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TARG

TIM THE ALPHABEATER 1 4 3 2 34 min

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CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid TARGET number represents a letter – or black square.

AsCASSOWARY in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used.

But you have to complete grid too! across arco assay away the awry Use the given letterscrass and black squares CASSOWARY craw racybelow scar thescary grid tosoar start. The gridsway is ‘rotationally soya wary symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down.

Solution tomorrow A 15 B C 9 D E 24 F G 13 H I 36 J K 23 L M 12 N O 39 P Q 17 R S 30 T U 18 V W 19 X Y 4 Z

Full solution

0907 181 255

*Calls cost 80p per minute your telephone compan network access charg

14

39

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30 25 40 28 Yesterday’s 20 13 18 4 36 7 Kakuro Answer

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Extra letter clue

0907 181 256

(Deduct three minutes each extra clue letter he

Y

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H ■

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19

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

WORD BUILDER Answer the clues so that each word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one.

Solution tomorr

1

1 Period

2

2 Demolish

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3 Peruses

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4 Deleted

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5 Water plants

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6 Kernel

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7 View

Friday, February 9, 2024

The Tribune | Weekend | 07

entertainment

Feeling creative? Learn to decorate a cake

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

W

e have all heard about paint and sip events where you get to be Picasso for a night while sipping bubbly with friends and enjoying good music.

But how about swapping a blank canvas for a cake board?

LeeBari Pastries has introduced this creative idea to Nassau and is inviting people to their “Cake & Sip” experience.

Pastry chef Leroy “Lee” Armbrister said the inspiration for this concept came after he received several requests from customers asking for cake-making classes for beginners.

“I have already hosted private and public Cake & Sips. Bahamians enjoy activities that they can take part in with their friends and loved ones while enjoying a few cocktails. I, too, have participated in many cake and sips and enjoy the activity and the experience it creates,” said Lee. While Lee has had knack for cooking since he was very young, baking was a different story.

But his failures with pastries and cakes only spurred him on to try harder. “(During) my university experience I was unable to fulfil my desire, but an opportunity arose from networking where I was offered a baking job.

Due to that opportunity I was able to familiarise myself with baking and cake decoration,” he said.

“As two years passed I decided to take the skills I developed to open my own cake brand and LeeBari was established in 2018. I have also recently been taking detailed cake courses in Miami for two years in an effort to develop cake-decorating for enhancement,” said the 26-year-old.

At LeeBari’s Cake & Sip event, participants are supplied with all the necessary materials for the cake decorating process. They are also given tips to provide them with a better understanding of the common and popular techniques of the “cake world”.

Following the tutorial segment, the cake-building begins and participants

are shown step-by-step how to proceed.

For those who may need some help, Lee is on hand to assist one-on-one with any questions or concerns they may have.

“This event is beneficial to those with baking skills that didn’t have an opportunity to learn how to decorate a cake. Here they will be provided all the supplies, guidance and confidence to tap into those skills. This event also allows persons to engage and mingle with others who came to do the same.

They can make friends by helping and assisting each other as they see fit,” he said.

“Friend groups are always looking for something new and innovative to participate in and this Cake & Sip is the platform to do so. There were many besties and larger friend groups that attend the event. It is perfect for sharpening social skills and even dance skills when the music hits right.”

Lee said the environment is a judgement-free and fun zone. It is also completely accessible for people with no background or experience in baking. He said the demonstrations are straightforward and the tools needed are on-hand.

“It is an amazing feeling to see the support and love that I receive from my clients, and I am delighted to create a safe space where no one is judged based on their creativity. Everyone can be free to express themselves through their designs.,” he said.

“This year, there are going to be festive bookings available where clients can create cakes with the theme of any particular season.”

Lee is looking forward to see his patron’s creativity when it comes to the festive cakes.

“There will come a point where I will offer a professional class where I do detailed explanations showing fondant and icing piping skills to ensure those clients receive an accurate training on cake decorating skills to further their creativity,” he said.

The next LeeBari Cake & Sip is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 18.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 9, 2024

gardening

Time for a trim?

G ood day, gardeners.

The wind and the cool has been upon us again, and while the veggies were loving it, some of the rest of the garden may be being whipped around a bit.

Coconut trees can take quite a beating in the breeze, and it ought to be a reminder to have them cleaned up and thinned out some to decrease the wind resistance and weight. It’s often recommended to clean them up twice a year, at least every six months or so.

Taking off some of the older fronds is a good idea, but it’s also a good idea to remove some of the coconuts to decrease the weight as well. I’ve noticed some trimming that has taken place around town and to me, it seems that many palms were scalped rather excessively.

It’s good to leave 5-7 fronds on a palm after trimming, leaving three or just the spiking leaf at the top goes a bit too far and may give the palm a bit of stress and strife causing it to draw more resources than ideal for the palm to replace those leaves.

Fortunately for us in our climate, palms (shrubs and trees) are a bit more forgiving due to the year-round growing season, and whoever has done the work won’t run into any problems as they would if it were done that way a little to the north of us.

One thing to consider when plant material has been trimmed back very heavily is that the plant will draw more heavily upon any available nutrients to replace the removed foliage as quickly as possible to continue providing energy for new growth.

New growth creates more energy for more new growth. If the nutrients are lacking in the soil, then a plant will have a harder time again in replacing the foliage. If there’s any yellowing taking place on new growth, this is a sure sign that nutrients are lacking.

I always recommend using a complete, high quality, sustained release fertilizer that provides a measured amount of quick release followed by a sustained or controlled release over the period of several weeks to several months, depending upon

application that is too quick or too heavily applied.

When it comes to palms, if there is a palm or palms that may need to be removed, many palms that grow in our climate are edible. The heart of a coconut palm is delicious! There are others, and it is crucial to do one’s own research before eating anything unfamiliar.

Pay attention to the air flow, sunlight penetration, and water movement in your garden and you’ll be increasing the success of your garden!

Maintain the ground and keep adding organic material to it in order to increase the friability, nutrient and moisture holding, drainage and airspace in the soil.

Mulch is a great addition to any garden after having loosened the native soil with additional organic material worked down into the ground, peat moss for example.

Everything is still growing albeit a bit slower in February, but it’s all still growing!

So yes, it’s a good time to trim palms, shrubs, and trees to create fuller growth, to increase airflow or sunlight penetration, or to decrease the weight of larger palms or trees.

Do avoid over trimming trees and palms. As always, I wish you happy gardening.

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brand and formulation. It is all very measured and there is a lot of factual science that goes behind each fertilizer formula, it isn’t guesswork as to the make up and chemical composition of them, and it’s best to avoid guess work in its application. Don’t let the word chemical scare you.

Even organic formulas are a mixture of chemicals but may simply be sourced differently to attain an

organic certification (that which is quite dubious to begin with). Try to avoid using a fast release fertilizer on plants or palms that have been trimmed very heavily.

As they may be struggling to put on new foliage and drawing heavily from available nutrients, if quick release fertilizer is used, there’s a higher chance of burning the roots or foliage of the palm or plant with an

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Friday, February 9, 2024

entertainment

What to stream this week, Super Bowl edition:

Usher, ‘Abbott Elementary’ and lots of puppies

By The Associated Press NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

simulcast on Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, Discovery+, TBS, TRUTV, and MAX before the big human game on Sunday.

— Celine Song’s “Past Lives” is an achingly tender film about making peace with the choices that shape our lives. Song’s directorial debut, which is nominated for best picture and best screenplay at the Academy Awards, is about a woman named Nora (Greta Lee) who, while married and living in New York, reconnects with a childhood friend (Teo Yoo) from Seoul.

Streaming on Paramount+ with Showtime.

— The mind of Charlie Kaufman has produced some of the most memorable films (“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” “Synecdoch, New York”) of the last few decades. But even when Kaufman last scripted an animated film, (“Anomalisa”), you wouldn’t call the results child-friendly. But in “Orion and the Dark,” Kaufman adapts Emma Yarlett’s illustrated children’s book about a fifth-grader (voiced

by Jacob Tremblay) who’s afraid of the dark, among other things. He’s forced to confront his fears when visited the actual Dark (voiced by Paul Walter Hauser). Streaming on Netflix.

— AP Film Writer Jake Coyle NEW MUSIC TO STREAM — It may very well be Usher’s world, and we’re just living in it.

From an incredibly successful Las Vegas residency to scoring the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show, the “Confessions” singer is experiencing a well-deserved influx of attention — from a new and curious audience as well as those filled with nostalgia for his smooth ’00s R&B. There’s more great news: today, just two days before he appears at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for Sin City’s inaugural Super Bowl, Usher will release “Coming Home,” his first new solo album in eight years. He hasn’t missed a beat — “Good Good,” the single with Summer Walker and 21 Savage — is silky summertime R&B with some

— Great American Family also wants in on the call-to-adoption programming. Year two of the Great American Rescue Bowl will feature both dogs and cats - all who have already been adopted — to highlight the kinds of pets you can find at a shelter or rescue instead of a store or breeder. The paw-some game between teams The Adorables and The Cuddlers begin at 12pm also on Sunday.

— Justin Hartley of “This is Us” debuts his new CBS series “Tracker” in the prime spot after Super Bowl LVIII. Based on the book “The Never Game” by Jeffery Deaver, Hartley plays Colter Shaw, a guy with a skill for tracking down the missing and all he asks for in return is reward money. In an interview, Hartley says he was itching to roam around outside after years of being in kitchens and living rooms for “This Is Us.”

Atlanta bounce — a winning combination. Elsewhere on the album, Usher joins forces with Burna Boy, Latto, The-Dream, H.E.R., BTS member Jungkook and Pheelz.

“Stacked” is the word.

— Swedish pop singer Zara Larsson will release her fourth studio album, “Venus,” today — an album full of shimmery synth-pop and Euro dance-pop that burns bright, hot and fast like a Saturday night. “On My Love” with EDM giant David Guetta proves it, but Larsson’s commitment to feel-good club bangers exists throughout: like on the strings of “End of Time,” which she said was inspired by Rihanna and ABBA in equal parts. Now that’s a combination.

— AP Music Writer Maria Sherman NEW SHOWS TO STREAM — “Abbott Elementary” aired its season two finale last April and there are lingering questions that need answers. Can Janine and Gregory (series creator Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams) remain platonic after almost stepping outside the friend-zone on the field trip to the science museum? Did a summer at Harvard prompt Ava (Janelle James) to finally take her job as principal seriously? And will Mrs.

— Alicia Rancilio NEW VIDEO GAMES TO PLAY (AP Photo/Ringo HW Chiu, File) Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) finally learn that Brian Tyree Henry’s name is not Brian Austin Green? Answers may be revealed when school is back in session and “Abbott Elementary” debuts season three on ABC. Episodes also stream on Hulu.

— There’s a four-legged alternative to Super Bowl Sunday: Puppy Bowl XX. This year marks the Bowl’s 20th year and 131 adoptable pups have been drafted from shelters and rescues across the US to compete. Teams Ruff and Fluff square off for the coveted “Lombarky” trophy while also encouraging people to adopt and not shop for pets. Puppy Bowl XX will

— Sony’s new multiplayer military shooter Helldivers 2 invites you to “wage war for peace” and “die for democracy.” If those slogans sound like something out of the 1997 satire “Starship Troopers,” wait until you see the enemy, a species of giant insects called terminids. You can join forces with up to three friends as elite soldiers defending “Super Earth” from the aliens — which, of course, is best accomplished by attacking the monsters on their home planets with a spectacular assortment of high-tech weaponry, from your basic laser rifle to massive bombs. If you find yourself cornered by an alien “bile spewer,” well, that’s your problem. The invasion launches Thursday on PlayStation 5 and PC. — Lou Kesten

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 9, 2024

literary Lives - Grace Jones

A one-of-a-kind ‘nightclubbing’ queen - Part II Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues to write about the Jamaican singer, songwriter, model and actress. She and her family moved to Syracuse, New York when she was a teenager.

She began her modelling career in New York State, then in Paris, working for fashion houses such as Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo, and appearing on the covers of Elle and Vogue. She is known for her distinctive androgynous appearance and bold features.

“I go feminine, I go masculine. I think the male side is a bit stronger in me, and I have to tone it down sometimes. I’m not like a normal woman, that’s for sure.”

- Grace Jones In 1990, Jones appeared as herself in the documentary Superstar: The Life and Times of Andy Warhol. 1992 saw Jones starring as Helen Strangé in the Eddie Murphy film Boomerang, to which she contributed the song “7 Day Weekend”. She released two more soundtracks in 1991: “Evilmainya”, and “Let Joy and Innocence Prevail” for the film Toys.

In 1994, she was due to release Black Marilyn with artwork featuring the singer as Marilyn Monroe. Sex Drive was released as the first single in 1993, but the album was shelved due to Jones disliking the mixes which had “minced” her vocals.

The experience turned her off working on music. In 1995, Jones reunited with Tom Moulton for Candi Staton’s 1978 song “Victim” but the release was cancelled.

In 1996, Jones released “Love Bites” – an uptempo track to promote Sci-Fi Channel’s Vampire Week. Force of Nature was also cancelled in June 1998, because of a disagreement with trip-hop musician Tricky, and a slowed-down version was released on a come-back album ten years later.

Another unreleased 1993 track “Volunteer” appeared on a bootleg 12” in 2004.

She recorded the track “Storm” in 1998 for the movie The Avengers and in 1999 appeared in an episode of the Beastmaster television series as the Umpatra Warrior. The same year she recorded

The Perfect Crime for Danish TV, written by Jacob Duus and Käre Jacobson. Despite some failures she was ranked as the 82nd on VHI’s “100 Greatest Women of Rock and Roll”.

in Venice. The album Hurricane involved twentythree tracks: “This Is”, “Williams’ Blood”, “I’m Crying”, “Love You to Life”, and “Corporate Cannibal”.

In 2000, Jones collaborated with rapper Lil’ Kim on the song “Revolution” for her album The Notorious K.I.M.

“Well Well Well” was recorded in memory of Alex Sadkin, a member of Compass Point All Stars who had died in a motor accident in 1987.

In 2001, Jones starred in the film Wolf Girl, as an intersex circus performer named Christopher/ Christine.

“Sunrise Sunrise” was written by Jones’s son, Paulo.

In June 2002, she joined Luciano Pavarotti on stage for his annual Pavarotti and Friends fundraiser concert for the United Nations refugee programme for Angolan refugees in Zambia.

In November 2004, Jones sang “Slave to the Rhythm” at a tribute concert for record producer Trevor Horn at London’s Wembley Arena. *** Despite several comeback attempts throughout the 1990s, Jones next full-length record was released almost twenty years later, after Jones had decided “never to do an album again”, changing her mind after meeting record producer Ivor Guest. Guest let Jones listen to a track he had been working on, which became “Devil in My Life”. Jones set the lyrics to the song after a party

Four songs were removed from the album.

For the album production Jones teamed up with former members of the Compass Point All Stars, and it was released on Wall of Sound on 3 November 2008 in the United Kingdom. It was distributed worldwide excluding North America.

Prior to the album’s release Jones performed at Massive Attack’s Meltdown Festival in London on 19 June 2008.

Jones performed four new songs from the album and premiered the music video which Jones and artist Nick Hooker collaborated on, which resulted in “Corporate Cannibal”.

Jones promoted the album by appearing on talk show Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, performed at several galas, and embarked on The Hurricane Tour. The same year Jones was honoured with the Q Idol Award.

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, February 9, 2024

In 2017, Jones collaborated with British virtual band Gorillaz, appearing on the song “Charger” from their fifth studio album Humanz.

In 2009, Chris Cunningham produced a fashion shoot for Dazed and Confused using Jones as a model, to create “Nubian versions” of Rubber Johnny.

In October 2018 Jones received the Order of Jamaica from the Jamaican government.

In an interview for BBC’s The Culture Show, it was suggested that the collaboration could expand into a video project. Jones also worked with the avant-garde poet Brigitte Fontaine on a duet named “Soufi” from Fontaine’s album Prohibition released in 2009, and produced by Ivor Guest.

In June 2022, Jones served as curator of the 27th edition of the Meltdown Festival, the longestrunning artist-curated music festival. During the show, Jones announced that a brand new “African hybrid” record was in production, and previewed “The Sun Shines in Wartime” and “Blacker Than Black” from the album.

In March 2010, Jones performed for guests as the 18th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Award Viewing Party – one of the world’s leading non-profit organisations supporting HIV prevention programs, and works to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. The event raised $3.7 million.

Jones provided guest vocals on Beyonce’s song “Move” from her seventh studio album Renaissance, released in July 2022.

On July 23, 2023, Jones headlined the music acts at Bluedot Festival.

The same year, a budget DVD version of A One Man Show was released as Grace Jones – Live in Concert. It included three bonus video clips: “Slave to the Rhythm; “Love is the Drug”; and “Crush”.

In 2011, Jones collaborated again with Brigitte Fontaine on two tracks from her release entitled L’un n’empêche pas l’autre and performed at the opening ceremony of the 61st FIFA Congress.

***

GRACE Jones with Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1984’s ‘Conan the Destroyer’

Jones released a dub version of the album, Hurricane-Dub, which came out on September 5, 2011. The dub versions were made by Ivor Guest, with contributions from Adam Green. Frank Byng, Robert Logan and Ben Cowan.

She was then involved with the Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren, her bodyguard. They dated for three years (1983 – 1986) before going their separate ways.

In April 2012, Jones joined Deborah Harry, Bebel Gilberto, and Sharon Stone at the Inspiration Gala in São Paulo, Brazil, raising $1.3 million for amfAR (the Foundation for AIDS Research). Jones closed the evening with a performance of “La Vie En Rose” and “Pull Up to the Bumper”.

Two months later, Jones performed “Slave to the Rhythm” at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II (whilst keeping a hula hoop spinning around her waist throughout), and the Lovebox Festival.

On October 27, 2012, Jones performed her only North American show of 2012, a performance at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom.

The same year Jones presented Sir Tom Jones with not only the GQ Man of the Year Award but her underwear. Tom Jones accepted the gift in good humour, saying “I didn’t think you wore any”.

Universal Music Group released a deluxe version of her Nightclubbing album as a two-disc set and Blue-Ray audio on April 28, 2014. The set contains most the 12” mixes of singles from that album, plus two previously unreleased tracks from

The controversial Grace Jones has been married twice, marriages resulting in breakups – although she claims to have only been married once. Her first known relationship was with French photographer Jean-Paul Goude, whom she met in 1977. The relationship went from professional to romantic, then there was a child in November 1979.

GRACE Jones and Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren dated for three years the Nightclubbing sessions, including a cover of the Gary Numan track “Me! I Disconnect from You”.

In October 2014, Jones was announced as having contributed a song “Original Beast” to the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.

Jones’s memoir I’ll Never Write My Memoir was released on September 29, 2015.

She then met actor Chris Makepeace in 1986, and film producer Chris Stanley, whom she denies ever marrying, although the record shows otherwise. The marriage she recognises is that with Atila Altaunbay, a Muslim from Turkey, who was also her bodyguard. Then after he was treated for having a knife in his throat (rumoured to be because of jealousy) it was the end of the union, although they never officially divorced - because she never believed in it. Her other known affairs include Danish actor Sven-Ole Thorsen – a music producer, Ivor Guest, and renowned director Quentin Tarantino.

Paulo Goude is the only son of the legendary singer and actress, whom she had with her French ex-partner, Jean-Paul Goude. Paulo is a musician and singer. He is the father of a daughter with girlfriend Azella – a member of his Trybez singing group.

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14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 9, 2024

history

Now and Then: enabled by AI – created by profound connections between the four Beatles

By Adam Behr Senior Lecturer in Popular and Contemporary Music, Newcastle University (THE CONVERSATION) “In 2023, to still be working on Beatles music … to release a new song the public haven’t heard, I think it’s an exciting thing.”

Not surprisingly, Paul McCartney was positive about the appearance late last year of what has been trailed as the “last” Beatles song, “Now and Then”.

Much has been made of AI being part of the production. Machine learning was used to recognise John Lennon’s voice, and then isolate it from other sounds – a piano, a television in the background, electrical hum – to make it usable in a new THE BEATLES recording. It also comes amid a slew down templates that others have of Beatles-related activity recently – followed. Lennon and McCartney’s a new podcast series, Peter Jackson’s first meeting at a church fete in 1957 epic 2021 documentary Get Back, is now the stuff of legend. new versions of the famed Red and Their innovations in the studio, Blue compilation albums, and a Paul assisted by producer George Martin, McCartney tour, during which he is helped to make recordings – espeplaying some of the Fab Four’s back cially albums – a central feature of catalogue. the popular music experience. They The commercial juggernaut seems emerged into professional practice unstoppable, so it’s perhaps easy to together, splitting as they formed be cynical about a “new” song from new relationships and moved onto a band that broke up in 1970, two of the next phases of their life while still whose members are dead. Certainly, relatively young men.

Now and Then does raise questions Bands are simultaneously social about how technologically mediated groupings, creative units and releases relate to collective artistic economic entities. The economic output, and what it means to be a “brand” can obviously run on for band. many years after the others have stopped. There is also long history Collective creativity in of posthumous releases, including bands Jimi Hendrix, Elliott Smith and Prince, even Otis Redding’s definIn many ways, though, the AI ing hit (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the label is a red herring, and this new Bay. Demo recordings, unheard live song – which actually has its roots performances and radio broadcasts in a John Lennon demo tape from are all established parts of artists’ 1977 – demonstrates a continuing pattern. The Beatles and their narra- catalogues.

This becomes complicated, tive provided a seminal example of though, when the act in question is how bands work, and seemed to be a collective with deceased members ploughing the furrow for others. whose presence on the recording is From their original formation as technologically facilitated. A key schoolboys (Ringo joined in 1962 example is the Beatles 1995 Antholwhen they started recording), to ogy project, which saw the surviving their enormous financial success and cultural impact, the Beatles laid members revisit John Lennon demos

from a cassette given to McCartney

by Yoko Ono, and add new parts to finish the songs.

This wasn’t entirely unique.

Queen’s Made In Heaven, in the same year, saw the band finish songs that Freddie Mercury worked on in the studio before he died. But it did involve resurrecting fragments of home recordings to clean them up for the commercial market.

The technology wasn’t sufficient at the time to properly isolate Lennon’s voice on Now and Then, so it was abandoned until Peter Jackson used machine learning to remove noise from source recordings for Get Back. By this time George Harrison had died, so this technology allowed McCartney and Starr to return to the song, incorporating Harrison’s guitar solo from the aborted 1990s attempt.

Come together We can, then, consider the process behind this latest song in evolutionary rather than revolutionary terms.

The possibilities of multi-track recording since the 1950s mean it’s long been the case that musicians have worked separately on the same song. As George Harrison said of The White Album: There was a lot more individual stuff … people were accepting that it was individual. I remember having three studios operating at the same time. Paul was doing some overdubs in one, John was in another and I

was recording some horns or something in a third.

Even when the Beatles were together, many canonical songs were the work of only one or two of them. McCartney wrote Yesterday and Blackbird alone, and is the only Beatle who plays on them. The Ballad of John and Yoko didn’t feature Harrison or Starr.

And the former band members played on each other’s “solo” records too. There are more Beatles on Harrison’s All Those Years Ago, or Lennon’s Instant Karma than on some of the band’s tracks. They all played separately on Starr’s 1973 album Ringo.

So “Now and Then” continues longstanding practices, going back to their heyday. Its status as the final Beatles song, though, reveals technological limitations. AI can create convincing facsimiles, but can’t replicate the facts of who actually played or sang the various parts, which is a central plank of what constitutes a band.

Audiences ascribe authenticity to music in many ways, and core among these for bands is the line-up – some acts have effectively replaced key members within the brand, others have had less success. It’s often a source of debate, at least, with “classic” line-ups being those that earn the audience stamp of authenticity.

So what of the song itself? It won’t supplant the likes of “Hey Jude” or “Help” in The Beatles’ musical pantheon. That bar, though, is high and the plangent piano-led ballad has a familiar yet distinctive arrangement, steeped in nostalagia but affecting on its own terms nevertheless. Lennon’s voice is clearer than on previous reconstructions and the harmonies sound like, well … The Beatles.

In that sense, what’s at the heart of this project is the presence – even spectrally – of the actual four people who made up the creative and social underpinning for the brand. The “last” Beatles song sees them demonstrating the importance, even as a coda to their recording career, of the interpersonal connections that set things in motion in the first place.

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The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, February 9, 2024

animals Animal matters Kim Aranha

PET OF THE WEEK

N

ow that Operation Potcake ‘24 is over with 2,253 cats and dogs spayed and neutered my brain can wander in different directions and I can climb back up on my proverbial soap box to defend other animals in need.

The turtle: greatly sought-after for myriad reasons. There are those who wish to eat them, those who wish to use their shells for self-decoration (jewelelry, handbags and hair clips), and those who wish to photograph them and swim with them.

We are now acquiring a whole batch of people in the Bahamas who have decided to blame the turtle for shark attacks.

Yes, you heard me. Though it is true that some species of shark eat turtle, it is not an easy meal for them as most sharks have difficulty biting through their hard shells. The Great White Shark and the Tiger Shark in particular enjoy feasting on a turtle here and there. However, to blame the proliferation of sharks on the proliferation of turtles is not particularly fair.

There was a tragic and fatal attack quite recently where people go to look at and swim with the turtles near Green Cay, so now the turtles are to blame? What about the squid fed to the turtles to bring them closer to the humans? Are we to suppose that the shark who attacked the poor lady was only there because there were turtles and not because squids were floating around to entice the turtles?

If the sharks in the Bahamas were such turtle-eating machines we would not have a proliferation of turtles. On the contrary, we would only notice an increase of sharks because they would all be busy eating every turtle they saw.

The “lift the ban on turtles” people have another agenda, as do the “lift the ban on sharks” people. It all boils down to money and maybe a bit of tummy. There are people who miss their turtle pie and stew, though if my informers are correct, there are still places who serve those forbidden dishes and men of importance and

PHOTO BY STEPH HICKMAN

Tall turtle tales

power who frequent those establishments. You will never be able to stamp anything completely out in the Bahamas. This is not a rule-following, law-abiding nation. We know that. So, the “tummy” crowd can still satisfy their cravings, albeit clandestinely and illegally. The poachers have their clients.

We come back to the “money” crowd who wish to sell their turtle meat and fool themselves that they made a large inflated income when it was legal.

We all know that rays are on the shark menu. There is a bay out west where a lot of juvenile spotted rays hang out and you can often see a dor-

Oh, Danny Boy!

By The Bahamas Humane Society Nine-year-old Danny, aka Danny Boy or Daniel, is not enjoying life at the Bahamas Humane Society. This older fellow has been an indoor/outdoor cat and is litter-trained so would make you a great companion if you’re looking for an older calmer cat.

Daniel is very snuggly and loves to cuddle.

Come in to the BHS to meet Daniel or call 3235138 for more informa-

sal fin of a shark who has dropped by for a square (or round) meal. However, please remember, the majority of sharks will eat practically anything, including the turtle.

The increased numbers of turtles in the Bahamas is a good thing, Turtles are among some of the most endangered vertebrates on this planet. More than half of all turtles species have threatened conservation status.

Sea turtles consist of the following species: Green sea turtle, Leatherback, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, Kemps. The Green Turtle is critically endangered, as are 31 others.

They play a very essential role in the underwater world; they keep

(Photo by Fina Johnson)

tion. Danny really hopes you’re his perfect match and that you’ll carry him home!

• The BHS Thrift Shop will be holding its Valentine’s Day Jewellery Sale on Saturday, February 10, from 10am to 2pm (postponed from Christmas). Lots of great items to choose from for you or a loved one. Come and check it out!

reefs clean, they cut the sea grass to the right height, and they attract and excite visitors who come to visit and photograph.

Turtles, as do sharks, belong in our sea, in the water; we actually do not.

We were not given gills. We wantonly pillage our oceans justifying our irresponsible behaviour by digging up some piece of information with a spec of accuracy and a ton of speculation.

I thought I had heard it all until today, when somebody was blaming the shortage of conch on the maligned turtle. Let’s get this straight, there is only one animal that can be blamed for the disgraceful scarcity of conch in our seas and that is man.

Man has over-fished our conch, indiscriminately, taking any size in order to make an extra dollar. When I was young conch was everywhere and now you walk out on a sand bank in the islands and the sight of a living conch is cause for excitement.

I can assure all of you who come up with novel reasons to lift the protection of sea turtles that it is for self-benefit. The ultimate agenda will benefit the person twisting the environmental truth. We are the custodians of this planet for the future generations – every day some flora or fauna becomes extinct never to return again, at the hand of man.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.”

Regretfully, this cannot be said of the Bahamas and those with no respect or knowledge of nature.

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 9, 2024

entertainment

Ignitable cakes, sweatshirts and more. Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift gear flies off store shelves

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, NICK INGRAM and MARK VANCLEAVE Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Missouri (AP) — An ignitable cake burns away a Kansas City Chiefs logo to reveal pop superstar Taylor Swift ‘s image underneath. Prayer candles feature the Grammy winner and her star tight end boyfriend Travis Kelce.

Sweatshirts are emblazoned with “Kelce’s Best Catch” and “Go Kansas City Swiftie.”

With the Chiefs preparing to face off against the San Francisco 49ers in Kansas City’s fourth Super Bowl appearance in five years, stores can hardly keep in stock any of the caps, sweatshirts and other odds and ends (some odder than others) commemorating the sports and pop crossover romance.

Highlights of their courting are featured in the merch. On tour in Buenos Aires, for instance, Swift changed a lyric in her song “Karma” from “Karma is the guy on the screen” to “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs.” Now Karma sweatshirts are proliferating, part of the surge of Chiefs merchandise hitting store shelves in Kansas City and far beyond.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Katie Mabry van Dieren, owner of Shop Local KC, which sells merchandise made by local artists, including the Karma sweatshirts. “I have never shipped so many items from our stores to different states.”

The July concert also was what set the stage for the relationship. Kelce was thwarted in his effort to woo the superstar with a friendship bracelet.

But the romantic gesture, and public admission of defeat on his “New Heights” podcast, caught Swift’s attention nonetheless. It also fueled a hot market for Chiefs-themed friendship bracelets.

“I hope Taylor and Travis stay together forever,” van Dieren said.

“That would be great for us.”

About 73 percent of adults say they plan to watch the game this year, about 10 percent higher than in recent previous years. And the

MUGS and cups like these on display at Shop Local KC in Kansas City, Missouri.

(AP Photo/Nick Ingram) romance that has been dominating headlines throughout the NFL season might be helping drive interest.

The “Taylor Bowl” is what Maddie Schmitz, owner of Something Sweet

by Maddie Lou in the Minneapolis suburb of Coon Rapids, is calling this Sunday’s contest in Las Vegas.

The self-described Swiftie is behind the ignitable, so-called burnaway cakes. She uses an edible image printer with edible inks to print the Chiefs- and Swift-themed images on two sheets of — you guessed it — edible paper.

“A lot of women are ordering these, in secret and then bringing them to the Super Bowl party to surprise their husbands because it is a whole Chiefs-themed cake on the outside, but then on the inside reveals the Taylor Swift love that all of the females seem to have for her,” Schmitz said.

Pre-game news conferences are sprinkled with questions about the songstress.

A TAYLOR Swift-themed “burn away cake” by Something Sweet by Maddie Lu. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave) After Swift earned her fourth career Grammy for album of the year on Sunday, Kelce vowed that he has to “bring home some hardware.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the city has been lucky to have experienced the economy jolt. “She is welcome,” he said in a pre-playoff statement, “to stay forever.”

Anything Swift wears is particularly hot. For instance, a ring bearing Kelce’s jersey No 87 is backordered after it was spotted on Swift’s finger.

The ring’s maker, Emily Bordner, from eb & Company, suspects that Donna Kelce bought the ring for her son’s star-studded sweetheart.

The Kansas City store also gave the superstar of NFL moms (her oldest son, Jason Kelce, is a center for the Philadelphia Eagles) a pair of soldout earrings bearing her youngest’s number on a Chiefs jersey. Swift has since been spotted wearing those, too.

It’s been all hands on deck ever since, with Bordner’s husband, mother and all her friends enlisted to help out.

“Bananas,” she said. “It’s been absolutely bananas. I don’t think I’ve ever worked this hard in my entire life, hands down. Absolutely not.”

At Westside Storey, it all started when Swift placed an order last fall.

She later was spotted wearing a hat and sweatshirt the Kansas City boutique sent her, recalled Chris Harrington, the store’s owner. He said he initially thought the flood of business would be short-lived, just a fun story to share when the mania ebbed.

“People talk about the Taylor Swift effect, and you hear about it or read about it or whatever, but to like, personally experience it, you know, is is another level,” he said, adding that it is “almost becoming like an identity of the store.”

The store generally does well when the Chiefs do, but this year is far busier than other recent Super Bowl years. Harrington credits the couple’s star power, saying it has elevated everything to a “global level.”