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Photos by Lia Haile
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6th Angostura University All Inclusive Fete Pt. 1
Date: Saturday 7th October 2006
Location: F.I.U Biscayne Bay Campus, Miami FL
Promotions: Upbeat Promotions Inc., Angostura, FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism Mgmt
Click on thumbnails to see the big picture/entire gallery

You gotta love it when a promoter seizes an opportunity to improve. Hats off to the Angostura University All Inclusive Fete crew for raising the bar yet again. And when we talk bout raising the bar, last year the event got a 4.5 out of 5 TJJ Rating, which we don't give out on ah regular basis … so these people not joking around when it comes to perfection. Nuff promoters whine and complain when you give them the real scoop about their fete and then come back the following year and do the same nonsense. This was definitely not the case with the 6th All Inclusive University Fete.

It's a Red Carpet Affair again, so as patrons made their way through the smoothly flowing General and VIP admission lines, they were greeted by the ever so lovely Angostura Girls lined up on either side of the Red Carpet. So it was an immediate warm welcome to get you into ah party mood, and the fellas were especially loving it as they danced their way through the line of all smiling girls into the fete. You also had beautiful Maxine Williams on the Red Carpet interviewing the who's who, as well as, regular partygoers.

First stop is ALWAYS the bar in ah All Inclusive, come na man doh act like yuh doh know. :-) Big brouhaha after last year's review (See University All Inclusive Fete 2005 Coverage) in which I drop the bomb bout makin sure Johnnie walkin' all night if he walkin' at all. Well boy, if I didn't know any better when I first watch the bar I wudda swear they buy out every last bottle of Johnnie Walker in Florida. Makin ah quick spin back stage to check the vibe and ah man passin' meh with a large trolley of... you guessed it MORE Johnnie. Ah say waaaaaaayyy, people SERIOUS this rounds. We doing this long time now, so having a critical eye on parties, promoters, deejay's, radio shows and Caribbean entertainment in general is second nature. Having said that, outside of TnT, the bar in this fete was one of the most well stocked and best staffed I have ever seen. Average wait... 20 seconds, no lie. There was only one bar for the general public mind you, but there were so many angles from which to access the bar and so many bartenders it was always smooth sailing.

Naturally there is always a jacker or two who try to spoil ah good thing. Ah ask one smallie for a Johnnie and soda water, she could not find any soda water so at the corner of my eye I saw her pour regular water, like I would not know the difference! Anyhow, who have time to make that an issue, fete too sweet! Ah just walk round the bar lil further and got what I really wanted. Talk is coconut water run out, but ah ain't see no coconut man on site cutting nut, so dem cans must run out at some point. Johnnie and canned coconut water doh do it for serious people anyway. Hehe.

FOOD WAS OFF THE CHAIN, easily accessible and in a well lit area. We talking bout Chinese (Caribbean Style), Jamaican and Indian Cuisine. Hoppie, thanks for letting us take a photo of your plate… we're sure it tasted as good as it looked!! There was even a special tent for F.I.U School of Hospitality Management Students Signature Dish! Nice idea to let the students showcase their talents. The separate bar for Mauby, Shandy and Carib was ah real nice touch too. One TJJ rep was in absolute glee, talkin bout, "This Mauby going down nice!" And looking at those Carib beers sitting all pretty in the ice was like looking at those "beyond ordinary" beer commericals. Now, last year the comfort/restroom areas for men was better laid out. This year the ladies were well taken care of (and I mean well taken care of), but by that truck behind the bar get real bless by most fellas.

BOUT THE ENTERTAINMENT DOH, people up by the stage was havin' a ball and a half, no denyin' that. Shout outs to all de hard working entertainers on the night… T&TEC Gayatones, Daddy Chiney (formerly of Dil-E-Nadan), Code 868 with Leon Coldero, Roger George & Eddie Charles, KMC, Faye-Ann Lyons, Skatie (who buss de classics) and David Rudder. Ah feel if yuh want the entire party to be up by the stage come with at least ONE top notch band. No disrespect to Code 868, everybody gotta start somewhere but they have a little synergy and harmony ting-tuh-ting-ting to sort out. Fetegoers who demand the best want to see the best in the game. Crowd was callin' for more deejay time, they wanted to hear the big tunes and break loose. What can we say about King David (Rudder), never let me down yet and ALWAYS brings a perfect end to this fete! "This girl from Bahia, stayin' in Moruga…" Run de big 1986 Road March tune "Bahia Girl".

Ah hear ah smallie say, just when yuh thought the highs could not get any higher after David Rudder, chippin out the fete with a pan side take yuh to a place few have been! Another highlight was when the pan side join up with the Petrotrin Tassa Group outside in the car park. Too much to be said about that moment. Almost cry yes..... Take me back to a time when Sweet TnT was really sweet. BCV (before cable TV) and all this race crap. Two beautiful melodies uniting as one, Pan meets Tassa, come nuh man Trini, it's not too late!

Upbeat Promotions Inc, large up for being in the running for the TJJ most improved fete award for Miami Carnival 2K6. Angostura and Florida International University School of Hospitality & Tourism Management, thanks for the love, and better yet, giving us a "Taste of the Caribbean". We will see you all next year!

- TJJ Party Appraiser aka Mango Chow Juice

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