Mas makeup

So you've selected your costume, it's sensational, & you can't wait to play mas. Time to consider the other elements to making your mas pop on the road. For the last several years Caribana has seen more influence from Trinidad Carnival with masqueraders wearing more elaborate makeup, including face jewels. I made contact last year with someone saying she was a makeup artist and would do faces on Caribana, but unfortunately I never heard back from her. Why was it that no one else was advertising for this service? It seems to me to be an excellent opportunity for talented makeup artists, as I know many masqueraders would love to have their makeup done for Caribana.

Callaloo's Indo-Aryans

This year fortunately I discovered Makeup by Natasha thanks to Tru! Natasha is from Trinidad, and of course Loves (with a capital L!) Carnival. She started doing makeup on herself and friends for Carnival a long time ago, and always had a passion for it. She took a makeup course at Centennial College 2 years ago while doing her Advanced Aesthetics and Airbrushing from George Brown College. She also attended Yorkville School of Makeup and Aesthetics where Natasha says she picked up a lot of tricks of the trade from the makeup teachers there, who are some of the best in the business. Natasha uses Nars, Makeup Forever, Gosh and Vasanti. She started using Sasha cosmetics because she loves their vibrant colors and the way it matches skin colours so nicely. She's now a Canadian Rep and sells their makeup in Canada.

Nefertits Dream, Callaloo

Natasha's location for Caribana morning is TBA. If you book now, you will get a FREE Lip-gloss or SINGLE EYE SHADOW from Sacha cosmetics. Also offered is a Caribana Special: Full leg & bikini wax, manicure, pedicure and makeup on Caribana day, $98.
Natasha's Makeup & Aesthetician services for you on facebook.

http://www.natashamakeupforyou.com

Who you playing with?

With all the big band launches behind us, most everyone should be somewhat decided on who they're playing with. So, let us know, what band & section are you in? As well, you can feel free to comment on how you made your decision to play with a certain band, and why you choose a particular section.

Much More than Mas Boots

For custom made leather or vinyl mas boots with matching mas purses and fanny packs, Torontonians know who to go to. Anton Gabriel aka Bootsman, has been designing these quality mas products for many years. However his appreciation for mas has grown with his opening of Mas Camp Central (MCC), a carnival museum; the first of it’s kind in North America.
After a year of designing mas boots, Anton realized he needed a showroom to display his designs, and not just during Caribana season, but year round. He acquired a spot in Scarborough in May of 2008 that is close to many of the mas camps. His wife's many years of playing mas at Trinidad Carnival and Caribana resulted in a huge amount of costumes. So these costumes, along with those of friends and clients who have purchased mas boots, are proudly on display at MCC. Anton is in partnership with all mas people who have encouraged him and contributed to making the showroom such a unique place to visit.

I’ve kept my costumes from the last 9 years, but some have inevitably fallen apart from making their appearance at not only Caribana, but Hamilton Mardi Gras and Barrie’s Caribfest. I display my headpieces in my own colourful Caribana room. So I wondered whether my costumes would be worthy of being put on display. But Anton told me he gladly accepts any and all costumes that he can find, headpiece or not.

Bootsman creations

The over 100 costumes on display date back to 15 years from Trinidad, Toronto & even Grenada. MCC is a registered not for profit organization in Ontario since March 2009.

The museum is a place where visitors can "talk mas," watch Carnival DVD's on a large TV, and look through the many books & magazines on display. Anton says on occasions you can even enjoy some pelau & corn soup as there is seating for 20 people.

Schools in the GTA are invited to make field trips with students in Arts & Culture to experience carnival and MCC will be the location for "show & tell" of everything mas.

Anton at a display at the St. Stephens Secondary School library in Durham during a multicultural celebration in April 2009.

Caribbean Vibrations videotaped two shows at MCC and Callaloo chose MCC as their costumes photo shoot location this year.

To get great taste of carnival before you play mas or watch the Caribana parade, be sure to visit this unique place. There are currently 20 empty mannequins waiting to be adorned with beads, feathers & sequins, so consider making your costume a part of Caribana history by donating it to MCC. I certainly identify with Anton's original aim of starting MCC to get people more involved in Caribana.

Mas Camp Central location is 130 Dynamic Drive, Unit 13, Scarborough. (One block west of Markham Road & McNichol.) Tel: 416-524-1782.http://www.mascampcentral.com/

Whoa! How low can you go?

An ad featuring this picture caught my eye the other day. I know she's doing the limbo, but you can see why this particular shot selection is rather... compromising.

(Just thought we could have a little chuckle.)

Turns out it's in the newspapers to advertise Art 09 International Art Fair happening this weekend. Held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, this fair celebrates world cultures, cuisine and entertainment. The Caribbean folk performers, like the ones pictured above, are promised to dazzle your senses and entertain you. It certainly looks like the weekend will have an interesting variety of great artists from around the world.

If you check it out, be sure to let us know how it was.

Pink Flamingo flew to Callaloo

If you liked the Flamingo section pictured below, you are going to have to go to Callaloo to get it

The section that was formerly called 'Flamingos' has now moved to Callaloo and is now called 'Nector of the Lotus'. More pictures of the costume can be seen on www.callaloo.net. Pricing Information: Regular Women: $140, Frontline Completed:$190, Frontline Headpiece: $40, Frontline Collar: $40, Men's: $130. Contact Information: Narissa Ali Phone: 416-274-8456 Email: carnivalfusion@gmail.com

Free Kiddies costumes with Callaloo

Callaloo is giving away 120 free costumes to children to participate in the Junior Caribana parade

I pulled this info from their website

Callaloo Kids 2009
GANGES MEETS THE NILE

This year , just as its has always been in the past , CALLALOO KIDS will be again out in full force at the Kiddies Parade on July 18th in an attempt to capture the coveted Junior Caribana Parade title as well as individual titles awarded to large costumes.

As this event is the prelude to the ADULT PARADE this gives the kids the opportunity to come out and participate in the festivities thus keeping them involved in the cultural aspect of the event and also grooming them for later years as adult masqueraders.

With this in mind as well as the awareness of the economic challenges currently facing the community CALLALOO has decided to provide to the kids in the community one hundred and twenty costumes (120) at NO COST to them on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS.

This effort, which is being administered by SUNLIME CANADA, is in full swing and costumes are being prepared for the official KIDDIES LAUNCH which will take place on JUNE 20th 2009 at the CALALLOO Mas Camp - 1510 Birchmount Road , Unit 101 from 2 - 6 PM .

Please note that EACH CHILD BEING REGISTERED MUST BE ACCOMPNIED BY AN ADULT.

Callaloo and Sunlime Canada would to thank the sponsors and volunteers that have contributed to this point and would like to encourage any individual or group that wish to further assist with this endeavor to contact us at sunlimecanada@gmail.com

IT’S ALL ABOUT KIDS HAVING FUN!!!

Mas' Toronto - Into D' Wild

Alicia & Errol Achue's Mas Toronto band launch was held at the Thornhill Community Centre. It was a fun production complete with an animated host & models who danced their mas. Mas Toronto's own featured "Chippendales" dancer also made his usual appearance & looks like he made good tips.

Rapids

Flamingo is Karabana's favourite, from the fluffy cute headpiece, to the pretty bra, and slim, well designed waistband.

Birds of Paradise

Wildfire

Karabana likes this version of Wildfire, especially the bra.

Flamingo

Wildcats

Kiddies carnival

Rainforest

Warriors

Birds of Paradise

Amazonian

There's some great headpieces (particularly Warriors) and a variety of options, including some frontline or costumes with more coverage, like with Rainforest & Wildfire. Birds of Paradise come in black, yellow, blue and pink. Female costumes are $150 or $155 and males are $120. Their published website mastoronto.com hasn't been working.

Connections - Gem Stones

The Jewel Box

Andalusite

Tonight we attended the launch of Toronto Caribbean Connection's Gem Stones.

It was a nice presentation with some real attractive costumes which were proudly made right here in Toronto. Tropical Sunset was a good location for the launch.

Fancy Amethyst Rainbow Moonstone Twilight Mystic Topaz Mercury Mist

Smoky Quartz

I like the full headpieces, how the bras are decorated, and the overall feminine features. Great job Mervyn!!

~ Updated to add: Costumes are reasonably priced at $135.00 (TCC considered the present state of the economy before setting out prices). Front liners range from $165.00. There will be online registration as soon as the website is up, maybe in another week or so.

Mervyn has also told me that for Smoky Quartz, the plus size section, there is a tankini as an option, and a one piece could be available if sufficient notice is given - time permitting.