< Previous78 WEL COME CAYMAN STYLE Taste of Cayman Food & Wine Festival The one-day event features live cooking demonstrations, food and wine tasting booths, local entertainment and family activities. Held on The Green at Camana Bay. 13 May 2023 | tasteofcayman.com Cayman Restaurant Month October celebrates Cayman’s local dining scene, with the month-long event featuring a diverse array of culinary offerings. Organised by the Cayman Islands Tourism and dinner menus. The last seven days incorporates Cocktail Week, with tastings and demonstrations. restaurantmonth.ky Cayman Cocktail Week Taking place the last week of October, the event celebrates Cayman's cocktail culture with an array of cocktail parties, tastings, demonstrations and culinary events. caymancocktailweek.com The Flavour Tour Held on the last Wednesday of every month, the Flavour Tour is a guided dining adventure through several restaurants at Camana Bay, featuring signature dishes focusing on local ingredients. camanabay.com Cayman Cookout In January Chef Eric Ripert hosts a weekend at The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman for an intimate food and wine festival. An impressive roster of some of the world’s most talented tours and dinners. Meet and mingle with the chefs at one of the weekend’s signature cookout events, including Andrew Zimmern, Dominique Crenn, José Andrés and Emeril Lagasse. caymancookout.com *Visit the websites as dates and events are subject to change. The Cayman Islands features several food festivals and events throughout the year to whet the appetite. Culinary events79 WEL COME Cayman Cookout returns for its 14th year in 2023. This multi-day food extravaganza brings together local and international chefs, and draws visitors from around the globe.80 WEL COME INTERNATIONAL FASHIONS by local designers CAYMAN STYLE IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR QUALITY GARMENTS with a distinct nod to the beauty and tones of the Cayman Islands, you should look at pieces created by local designers that have made their names both here and abroad. From award-winning runway star, Isy Obi of Isy B. Designs to Olivia B, who represented Cayman at New York Fashion Week 2016; Kenzie Rose, the woman who has dressed Miss Cayman Islands Universe in splendour at the international pageant; the extraordinarily creative Laura Anderton of Laura Anderton Millinery; and London-based Jawara Alleyne, there is no shortage of talent grown here. Isy B. Designs Sand Angels in Camana Bay is one of the high-end boutiques that carries Isy B. Designs. But the label’s with Isy winning ‘Lifestyle Designer of the Year’ at Phoenix Fashion Week in the US, among other accolades. Her latest collection ‘The Storyteller Collection’ is now available to browse and buy. It is colourful, creative, and perfectly suited to time well spent in the islands. Olivia B and Kenzie Rose Olivia B and Kenzie Rose are known for their bespoke pieces, particularly when clients want to dial up the glam factor. Kenzie promotes herself as offering custom wedding, pageant, costume and evening wear by special order. “People come to me when they have something special Olivia says. Kenzie and Olivia both have Instagram accounts which demonstrate their creativity. Visit @oliviabdesigns and @krosecayman for a taste of their fabulous creations. Norma Ebanks Another name known in Cayman for her designs and subsequent creations is Norma Ebanks of Creative Fashion and Design, located upstairs in Tropical Plaza on Smith Road. It might not be apparent from the outside, but inside, magic happens. Norma has been a seamstress and designer for 30 years and has created gowns for high-end clients attending some of the biggest galas of the season. Laura Anderton Millinery A great hat never goes out of style, and one as exquisitely handmade as those created by Laura Anderton should be absolutely treasured. Laura is constantly called upon to create one-of-a-kind wearable pieces of art for everything from weddings to state occasions, and even Royal Ascot. She uses nothing but the best materials for her masterpieces, which have been proudly worn around the globe. Jawara Alleyne Jawara Alleyne is a force to be reckoned with. He graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2016, got his masters in fashion from Central Saint Martins in 2020, co-founded Nii Agency with photographer and collaborator, Cambell Addy, and is currently supported by Fashion East. There is no doubt that his will be a worldwide name in the near future.81 WEL COME One has simply got to look at the creations from local designers to see that they easily belong on international runways.82 WEL COME CAYMAN STYLE Cayman Arts Festival Cayman’s largest performing arts festival attracts world-class artists for a week of performances including jazz, classical and chamber music as well as dance and visual arts events. Held annually in February. caymanartsfestival.com Coco Fest Coco Fest celebrates the Cayman coconut, preserving its ties to the islands’ culture and heritage. Held in February at Pedro St. James, the festival features food, products, demonstrations and crafts made from the coconut. Presented by the Tourism Attraction Board. tab.ky Cayfest The Cayman Islands National Festival of Arts, Cayfest, is an annual celebration hosted in February/March by the Cayman National Cultural Foundation. It showcases the islands’ cultural diversity and artistic talent. Red Sky at Night is Cayfest’s anchor event, featuring music, dance and storytelling, as well as a market showcasing works by local artists. Cayman Carnival Batabano Cayman’s national carnival features music, dance and colourful costumes in true Caribbean fashion. Thousands of spectators line the streets to watch the parade, where participants join together to compete in May, the name Batabano is a nod to Cayman’s turtling heritage as the word refers to the tracks left in the sand by sea turtles. caymancarnival.com CayMAS Carnival Revellers take to the streets to showcase spectacular costumes, music and dance, embracing island culture and heritage. The street parade is a carnival of mas (short for masquerade) bands, each with its own colours and theme. Held in July, CayMAS includes soca and steel pan competitions, parties and fetes. caymas.ky Pirates Fest This national festival takes over the whole of Grand Cayman with a other swashbuckling fun. Popular events include a mock pirate invasion, events. In 2022, sthe event known as Pirates Week expanded to include festivities spanning 12 weeks, from September to November. piratesfestcayman.com *Visit the festival websites as dates and events are subject to change. FESTIVAL FUN in the Cayman Islands84 WEL COME CAYMAN STYLE ONE OF THE MOST ASKED QUESTIONS BY VISITORS at concierge desks, bars or of resident passersby is “Where can we hear some live music?”. Thanks to the large melting pot of cultures to be found in the Cayman Islands, a wide range of genres is celebrated on local stages. From traditional songs passed down through generations to original numbers penned in modern times, Caymanian musicians have ensured that there is no shortage of tunes for audiences to enjoy. Music has always been a big part of Cayman’s history. Senior citizens remember when, in the festive season, bands of men playing instruments would walk down the lanes, going from house to house. The sound of those melodies in the distance Caymanian seamen, decades ago, hundreds of miles from stations hailing from the US that they tuned into on the islands today. Additionally, the mix of soca, reggae, calypso, pop, rock, rhythm and blues, alternative, Latin, rap and hip- hop that has inspired local artists, means somewhere on any songs they love. Aside from one-off special events and concerts, there are many venues on the island that regularly host live music nights. Peppers on West Bay Road has local legend Lammie bringing his strong vocals to the stage, as well as popular groups JR Douglas Band and Los Tropicanos. Ms. Piper’s has also become a favourite of those seeking out some melodic therapy with the likes of James Geary and Hi Tide in rotation, among others. Speaking of Hi Tide, the duet with many albums under their belts and a long-term residency at Decker’s Restaurant on West Bay Road can now be found at not only Ms. Piper’s, but also in Camana Bay on weekends. Sandbar in George Town is a big hotspot for local acts. The Fabulous 68’s, The Neverines and Sugardaddi are just a few the evenings. Don’t forget about the resorts, either. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to pull up a chair to the bar and listen to Nathan Barnett and Glen Scott masterfully playing their guitars, or Mexican mariachi (which matches perfectly with margaritas). Paraguayan harpist Eugenio Leon, who can elevate a sunset with his command of his instrument, can be found at different restaurants throughout the week, such as Casanova by the Sea. If you’re in the mood for romance, this is the music for you. Of course, it’s also hard to beat the unique sound of steel pans when you’re in the islands, so head to Wyndham Reef Resort on Saturday nights where locals mix with tourists under the evening sky. Then there is Bevvy bar, in what used to be the open lobby of Margaritaville Resort. That venue has always been popular for live bands, so it’s nice to see that the tradition is being contin- ued. Patrons can pull up a chair to the bar or take a seat closer to ground level and enjoy a mix of musicians on the weekend. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what the Cayman Islands has to offer when it comes to live music, and Mother Nature provides the perfect backdrop. SOUNDS OF THE ISLANDS: Live music hotspots85 WEL COME From top left, clockwise, Denys Carbo, Eugenio Leon, Fabulous 68's, James Geary, Swanky Kitchen Band, Trinity, Hi Tide, Glen Scott.86 WEL COME CAYMAN STYLE YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN A BIG CITY in order to get the shopping bug. In fact, it’s sometimes nice to browse at a leisurely pace while discovering items unique to a destination. Cayman offers the best of both worlds – quaint shops and markets where you can buy original paintings, local crafts and simple island-wear, as well as high-end boutiques that represent some of the biggest designer names in the world. While shopping, don’t forget that certain items in Cayman are duty-free. That means nice savings on leather goods, beauty products and cameras. Compare prices to elsewhere in the world and you may have a nice surprise. Head to central George Town for an array of duty-free stores offering the very best in jewellery, watches, leather goods and perfumes. The newly pedestrianised Cardinall Avenue, and nearby Fort Street, Bayshore Mall and the open-air Cayman Craft market are perfect spots to meander. Camana Bay, near the Seven Mile Beach strip, offers high- end jewellery stores, clothing, and home goods as well as numerous restaurants where you can recharge in between shopping hauls. Some of Cayman’s hotels also have in-store boutiques, while smaller, independent stores can be found island-wide, vacation by. CAYMAN Retail therapy CAYMANITE Did you know that Caymanite is an uncommon form of dolomite found exclusively in these islands? When polished, its luminous layers reveal a lustre that is beautifully highlighted in pieces of jewellery. Look for a keepsake to suit you that will always remind you of your trip to the islands. IMA G ES : Pat ric e A . Mor ga n for L au na 's C ay m an ite J ewe lryCayman Cottage filled with unique Cayman inspired art, jewelry, home goods and souvenirs. 5 Denham Thompson Way & South Church Street Mon - Sat 9:00am -5:00pm Closed Most Sundays & Public Holidays 345-949-9133 www.pureart.ky info@pureart.ky 87 WEL COME CAYMAN STYLE JUST NORTH OF THE MAIN SHOPPING STREETS of George Town, sits a cluster of small white buildings which have long been an important part of Caymanian life and history. Mr. Arthur’s print shop and home on the land-side of North Church Street, and his shop on the seafront, are national treasures, taking passers-by back to simpler times. The shop recently celebrated its 125th anniversary, having survived numerous hurricanes and business competitors, as well as a brief hiatus during pandemic times. Opened by Arthur Bodden in 1897 as a general store, it was passed down to his daughter Arthurlynn Scott in 1991 and she ran it until her passing in 2021. Her niece Dr. Alexandra Bodden Wright has now taken on this family legacy. Stop in at this quaint spot for its ever-popular corned beef or tuna sandwich on your way from George Town to Seven Mile Beach. Mr. Arthur’sNext >