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  Island Eats Festival Brings T&T Flavours, Soul and Soca Rhythms to North York This June13th For two days in June, Mel Lastman Square will be transformed into a Caribbean village filled with the sounds of steelpan, the aroma of jerk chicken and the energy of Carnival as the 3rd Annual Island Eats Food & Travel Festival returns to North York. The festival takes place Friday, June 13, from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, June 14, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., bringing together Caribbean food, music, tourism and culture in one outdoor celebration. “Visitors can expect dozens of food vendors offering authentic island dishes,” explained Petronella Marchan, (pictured)one of the festival organizers. “The food choices range from slow-cooked oxtail and doubles to fresh seafood, coconut water and Caribbean pastries,” she said. The event says it is quickly becoming one of Toronto’s largest celebrations of Caribbean cuisine and tourism outside of Carnival activities. One of the crowd favour...

King Cosmos on Ice Last Saturday at Mel Lastman Square.  Caribana Iced – Small Crowd. Warm Response By Stephen Weir There were no Triple Axels or  Salchows from  Calypsonian   King Cosmos (Henry Gomez) as he gingerly skated out onto the ice at Mel Lastman Square last Saturday.  What he lacked in skating finesse he made up for with his singing and his warm and friendly greeting to the people who came out Saturday to watch  Caribana on Ice . Wearing all black except a colourful feathered headdress with matching wristlets and ankle splashes.  Master of Ceremonies, King Cosmos told the family audience they were watching a first – a professional presentation of the Carnival Arts on Ice. Dance Skaters steps on ice “This is the first time this has been done in Toronto, “ he said to a cheering and clapping crowd standing on the edge of the large outdoor rink.  “I think it has to be the first time in North America.  We usuall...

--> Dance Caribe - the summer version March 2nd - Caribana On Ice -Free Show   By Stephen Weir The Caribana Arts Group (CAG) is planning to kick start the 2019 Carnival season in Toronto with Caribana On Ice , a free outdoor show   designed to compliment Black History Month celebrations .   Panman Pat   Caribana On Ice will be held at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge Street) on March 2 , starting at 2 p.m.   Organizers say the show will be "a splash of culture, colour, mini Caribana TM  costumes, sweet sounds and lots of energy." “In the past, the CAG has held other Caribana On Ice events, albeit with a more informal approach," event programmer Amah Harris told the Caribbean Camera. “This year we have designed what one could described as a ‘mini’ Caribana on  the  ice presentation.” The show features Dance Caribe   and the Drumming Ensemble . Also on the showbill is veteran pannist/calyp...