First
and foremost, let me wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a
bountiful New Year! This is the last post for 2013 and I want to leave
you with with thoughts of joy, understanding, compassion and forgiveness
for everyone around you from those you love to those you love to hate,
the ones you never notice, the ones without a voice, and of course the
people who touch your life in some way. So, with holiday cheers, and a
shot of cremace, coquito, eggnog or whatever you choose, let me dive
into a subject many of you have been asking me about: Haiti nightlife!
Haiti's
nightlife is alive and kicking! You will be hard pressed any day of
the week not to find a spot to hang out, socialize, listen to music and
have a good meal. There is a myriad of restaurants, bars, clubs or just
hang out spots of every flavor and for every budget. Restaurant wise
one can find Thai, Chinese, American, Irish, Middle Eastern, Jamaican,
French, Canadian, and others. As for the clubs, they range from rooftop
affairs for the jet setting crowd, to holes in the wall for more
discrete entertainment. Pick your drink and you can be served in a
little plastic cup on the side of the road, or or a fancy glass in your
favorite haunt.
Nightlife
starts early in Haiti at 8pm unlike places like Miami or New York. If
you're not sure what's going on just drive around for a few minutes and
take a look at the billboards or "affiche" posted here and there at
major intersections. You can also search the internet, or follow your
favorite spot on Facebook or Twitter. My go to website for all that's
happening around town is www.manmanpemba.com. Not only do you find
upcoming events, you can also browse their directory, or peruse the
reviews similar to Yelp!. A few months ago, one of my reviews won a
contest that resulted in 2 tickets to "Zoukmania".
As
for the entertainment itself, there is something for everyone. First,
there are all the "bal". The artist, the venue and the entrance fee
determine the type of crowd that will be there and how popular the event
will be. Last night I went to Magnum Band/Frères Déjean at Karibe
Hotel. Our dear president also attended and regaled everyone by getting
on stage and singing with both bands. He was there shaking hands,
dancing and enjoying himself like everyone else. In November for guédé
night, I went to Boukman Eksperyans/Boukan Guinen at Cafe Trio and the
place was packed as people wanted to see those two rival bands one one
stage for the first time. There has also been Mizik Mizik/Dadou Pasket
at La Reserve restaurant, Zoukmania with Eric Virgal, Tanya St Val and
others at Parc Canne à sucre, Klass at Cafe Trio. Upcoming "affiche"
include Mizik Mizik/Nu Look, Skandal, Carimi/Klass, Zin/Nu Look,
Kdans/Kzino, Djakout #1 and more! 
If
going to a "bal" is not your thing but you still want to listen to
music and maybe dance a bit, then you can partake in some of the
recurring events at various venues like Jazz night at La Reserve, Salsa
at Hotel Montana, Latin night at Quartier Latin, Jukann at Press Cafe,
Reggae night at Cafe Organic, Twoubadou night at Mr. Grill just to name
a few, or go to a resto-dansant. But don't stop there, a lot of local
and international DJ's have made a name for themselves in Haiti and have
a strong following. They can usually be found at one of the many bars
or clubs. The hottest ticket right now is Bob Sinclair at Tara's on New
Year's eve. Let's not forget special private parties like the annual
Black Party, Cercle Bellevue's Noche Buena, Tara's Masquerade Ball, and
Lavish at Ibo Lélé.
Now,
if music is not your cup of tea, you can attend special dance
performances or plays, gallery openings, literary events, Kako's Bingo
Night when it's in town, or catch one of the comedy shows. I recently
fell off my chair laughing at "Kakofoni" a comedy show, and heard great
things about Stand-Up Ladies at Karibe. For others, weekly events at
the various "place publique" like Place Boyer, offer free musical,
theatrical or sporting entertainment. in, for those who prefer to stay
home and just get together with a few friends, a lot of restaurants in
Pétion-Ville deliver, so pizza, chicken wings, fried chicken, hot or
cold subs or fritay are just a phone call away. Also, Caribbean and
Giant market rotisserie chicken and extensive liquor and gourmet food
section are just a stop on the way home.
There
you have it, a brief overview of the nightlife in Haiti. A few tips to
remember: always carry change with you, at least 50 gourdes, to tip the
guy on the street who helps you find parking and watches your car. All
one way streets turn into any way streets as you see fit on your way
back from the event. Always spring for the VIP section if not too cost
prohibitive because it is so worth it!. Definitely get your tickets as
early as possible to avoid paying twice as much at the door and to make
sure there are still VIP tables available. Plan on being home around
3am unless you decide to top off the night at Harry's. Plan on bumping
into at least a few people you know no matter where you go. Finally,
if you really want privacy, stay home or go to a hole in a wall where
you can barely see your hand, let alone your date!
Everyone, enjoy your holidays and come back next year for all new posts!
Christian's Corner
Hello friends. I love the Christmas season. At school we had a tree lighting ceremony, which is like a Christmas show with the kids singing, but I didn't go. In my class we had a secret Santa, and I picked one of my best friends. We had a Christmas party and everyone gave their gift. It was a lot of fun. So,
some of my classmates are traveling for the holidays. Who is excited
about the trip to Miami? I am! Who is going to pick me up at the
airport? who are we going to visit first? which one of my favorite
restaurants will we go to? I am also excited about the presents. What
do think you're going to get for Christmas? I want a kitten.
