Phat to Fabulous!

What's good fam? Ya girl is back and oh what a time she had! This weekend was incredible, we did the damn thang and I am still recovering from the weekend. So I wasn't too bad (T.Cas), but what fun would the trip be if I didn't have some tales I had to keep to myself, right. I am married not dead. lol Anywho, Friday morning I got up to head to the airport and got on my way to T.O., made it there a little after 10am their time and met up with my friend, Terri, in customs. Now T flew in from MKE on a different flight because of technical difficulties, shall we say. Anywho she and I had a good hour before our other 2 counterparts made it in from Charlotte, so we made a home at the little Cafe/Bar to kill some time, taking in the sites of the people in the airport. Once it got closer to time for their flight to arrive we made our way to the area where people meet folks coming through customs. They have a board above the area that lists arriving flights, it changes back and forth between French and English. I used this time to have my own personal French lesson as I speak none. Now 'Arrived' was pretty easy 'Arrive', 'On Time' was a little harder 'L'Huevre' (I think I am spelling that right!), but I 'bout lost it when we looked and saw that the flight info for Charlotte had been updated to 'Delayed' which was 'En Retard'. Damn they must know my friends pretty good. Either that or the know that everyone in Charlotte is retarded! hahahaha! Sorry that was hilarious to me at the time. Possibly since I had been up since about 3:30 am!

Anywho their plane had finally 'arrive' and I got a text message from them that they were coming through customs and we are waiting and waiting, when I get another text message that USAirways had lost one of my friend's bags. Now the last time we came to town they didn't want to let her in the country all because the lady at USAirways didn't think her birth certificate was an authentic certificate. Now this! Needless to say she has now vowed to never return to Canada, I am hoping over time I might be able to twist her arm.

We got a car went to the hotel, dropped off bags and hit the streets. We headed over to the Eaton Centre to get in a little shopping, between the 3-level H&M and the 6 or 7 Aldo shoe stores in that place a girl was just in heaven! After the mall, we went to a restaurant there and grabbed a little something to eat. While chillin' in the restaurant a group of guys walks. We all start talking and joking back and forth when this cat says they are from Milwaukee! WTF!!!! How the heezy do I go to another country and still run into cats from the Brew? Anyway we finished getting our grub on and made the all so important stop to LCBO (the liquor store) and stocked up for a weekend of fun.

We made it back to the hotel, Lisa and I headed up to the roof top to have our drinks in the sun, while the old folks took a nap. Went back to the room got situated and headed to Inside Lounge (club owned by Vince Carter). We had a good time the floor is 4 levels. They were having a party hosted by Baba Kahn (dj/promoter up in T.O.) . Who do we run into at the club, but at least half of the Milwaukee boys. Next floor! Naw kidding they were cool, and at least some of them cats looked a little too familiar. We made our way up to the roof top patio and got our groove on. We had a little drama, but nothing that was going to ruin my night. We closed down the place at about 4 or 5 and headed back to the hotel.
Me and the ladies in the hotel lobby

On the rooftop at Inside Lounge

Enter day 2: Saturday
We got up Saturday morning, headed down to the hotel restaurant to get our free breakfast. Went back to the rooms and got ready for a day at the parade. We made our way over to the CNE and took in about 4 hours of the parade in the hot, hot sun! We all left about 10 shades darker and/or sunburned, but we had too much fun there too! The mas bands were great, and some of them big girls made me feel damn good about myself! hahaha! Someone needs to put out some rules before next year though. First, it is not necessary for your hair to match your mas band costume! Had I seen one more child up in that piece with a lime green weave up in her hair, I would have had to scream. Second, we know you are going to be walking all day and don't want your feet to hurt, but do you really have to wear your lawn mowing tennis shoes to play mas? You couldn't have gotten some cute coordinated Pumas and worked that out? I'm just saying! Third, if you are wearing a costume with boy cut shorts, do not, I repeat, do not wear your own black boy cut drawls under them so everyone can see them. That's tacky! Finally, when wearing your mas costume, do not ever, ever, ever, ever wear reinforced control top panty hose! That's just wrong. Here are a few pics from the parade. In the silver, the guy dancing up on the girl...John Singleton. I wish we had a better pic, but you have to take my word for it that's him. He was looking a little spooky dancing up on all the girls.

That night we headed to Afterlife, for another party hosted by Baba Kahn. The music was straight, not quite as live as the night, before and it was hot as hell in that place. We had to make our way up to the roof top. Had a few laughs over this spastic girl on the dance floor who just knew she was doing the damn thing. We ended that night about 3-3:30am, headed back to the hotel and Lisa and I left and headed to do the traditional trek down to Yonge and Dundas Square to laugh at the sites. This is the spot where everyone goes with their whips, and just roll up and down the street. The young girls in very little clothes are always hilarious, because they are always trying so hard to look cute, when half of the guys appear to care less. So after a chuckle or two out there it was time to call it a night. We headed back to the hotel and got some shut eye.

Enter day 3: Sunday
Sunday we got up did the b-fast and got ready to hit the ferry to head out to Centre island, one of the Toronto Islands. Every year at Centre Island there is a big Arts and Cultural Festival with great food and music. We had a great time spending the day out there. The music was great, especially since this year they had a Cuban Salsa band, Cafe Cubano. I need to find out if they have any cd's or a website. They were great, I got a workout getting my salsa on in the grass and waving my flag.
Even the old white people got their jump up on!

A shot of T.O. from Centre Island

After we made it back from the island, more tan and sunburned than before, we headed to the hotel to go back up to the rooftop jacuzzi for a bit and continue our libations. Stayed up there until it got dark and was time to get ready to head to the Nelly party at The Docks. We were looking fierce and ready to hit the club. We got there, no one was on the dance floor, but since when has that stopped us. We got out there and soon it was nice and packed on the dance floor. We moved around took in the sites and got our groove on while we watched the faces of the young bucks in the club as the dj started taking it back to the old school playing Kool and the Gang, New Edition, and many more! We went and rested our feet on the patio for a bit, and made our way back in. Jammed a bit more. Now 2 of the chicks we were with decided to head back to the patio to get a bite to eat. How about as soon as they did Nelly took the stage. Me and one friend were getting our groove on trying to keep an eye on the door for them as we drooled over that boy! lol How about those were the two with the daggone cameras too? And how about them heiffas didn't make it back and in in time and completely missed Nelly. Wow. I suppose I will have the memories in my mind. That night ended sadly at about 3:30am as we realized that in the am we would all be headed home. *sigh*

We had a blast. I have never been disappointed on a trip up for Caribana. And there is only one question remaining to be asked...Where is the next fete??

Until next time y'all know what to do!

Holla!
~L~