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It's Carnival. Look Bacchanal

It's Carnival. Look Bacchanal

Brooklyn's J'Ouvert and Labor Day Parade

It's been one week since Labor Day. A day where West Indians celebrate the culture and pageantry of the Caribbean with festivities throughout the long weekend culminating in a parade along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. However, this day was full of disappointments and tragedy.  The predawn j'ouvert street party was once again marred by violence and the annual parade was a lackluster crawl.

True Masqueraders

True Masqueraders

Toronto Caribbean Carnival (Caribana)

I have been to Toronto many times for many reasons, but my favorite reason for venturing to T-Dot is Toronto's Caribbean Carnival (better known as Caribana).  This year, I resolved to not only sit on the sidelines and watch the parade from behind a giant fence, but to don the revealing costume and play mas. 

Today I'm Feeling Nice

Today I'm Feeling Nice

AWAKE 3.0 Boat Ride

“Who goes to a party at 7am on a Sunday morning?”

“Umm... I do.”

At a friend’s wine & cheese housewarming in the Bronx on Saturday, I told my friends that I needed to call it an early night as I had to get up early to go to a party.  The facial expressions cannot be captured in print, but suffice it to say they seemed concerned for my sanity.  Yes, although I do not usually party on Sundays (aside from Carnival getaways), I decided that Freeze International’s annual morning boat ride would be worth the penance.

The Beginning of the Endless Summer

The Beginning of the Endless Summer

Memorial Weekend 2014 Parties

After such a long and difficult winter season, New Yorkers were ready for warm temperatures and outdoor parties.  Rather than firing up the grill or heading to southern beaches as so many typically do, DysChick took to the streets of Brooklyn for a weekend of parties featuring great deejays from around the world, live soca performances, and most importantly anti-stush revelers.  If this is the kickoff to New York’s summer party season, I’m ready for an endless summer.

We Want Drinks

We Want Drinks

LUSH Drinks-Inclusive Party

It is true that you can't judge a book by its cover.  If I had, I probably would not have gone inside the brownstone on East New York Avenue.  My initial thought was "who sells tickets to a basement party?"  Surprisingly, this basement party was one of the best events I have been to this year!  Good music and an abundance of good drinks make for an amazing night.  Big up Fusion Karnival and everyone involved in making LUSH an epic event!

I's A Feter To Meh Heart

I's A Feter To Meh Heart

Dr. Jay's Return Fete in Toronto

I tried my best to resist the allure of yet another Dr. Jay fete in Toronto.  I told myself that I was not going to force myself to brave my fear of flying just to go to a party.  But then, the artists were announced.  The "Partier5 Star Akil, Miss "Bad Influence" herself Nadia Batson along with her baby sis JoJo of SASS, Chutney soca artist Ravi B., New York's own Lyrikal was going to lock it down with Groovy Soca Monarch Kerwin DuBois.  Arrgh!  Yep.  Looks like I had to take a shot of liquor and fly out to Toronto for "Return Fete." 

Me Two Hand in the Air

Me Two Hand in the Air

Long Island Carnival 

“This should probably only take about three hours.  There are only two mas bands on the road, so I’m sure I will be back home by 5pm.”  I had to eat those words when I returned home close to midnight on September 7th after attending Long Island Carnival.  Why did I even bother to go?  Well, as Brooklyn Carnival was just one week prior, I still had the carnival jumbie in me and Long Island Carnival offered a quick fix.

De Stage Open

De Stage Open

Carnival Mania at the Barclays Center

Just one week after hosting the MTV Video Music Awards, the Barclays Center welcomed Grenada's Tallpree, St. Vincent's Skinny Fabulous, Barbados' Edwin Yearwood and Alison Hinds, and of course, Trinidad and Tobago's soca power couple Bunji Garlin and Fay-Ann Lyons!  For the first time ever on this site, DyChick not only got to enjoy the stage show but I had an opportunity to talk to the artists behind the scenes!