Kootenanny 09

April 09

Kootenanny 09 official Website
http://brewmanproductions.com/

This was my first experience of Kootenanny, but 09 was its seventh year. It is really the first big outdoor party of the year in the area. Held in the Creston valley of BC, it is already green and blossoming long before the prairies. Cowtown was still drab and grey so even getting to see some leaves was worth the trip!

I went with a group of ladies from Calgary who had been to this festival before. We packed up a couple of vehicles and headed West into the sunset. Ok South first - towards Crowsnest Pass and then West - over the Salmo Creston pass.

In Creston we stopped in the local shops for some last minute supplies, water, batteries, blankets, and then headed out of town to the venue.

Located on Sunbeam Farm's beautiful property, the venue overlooks the Kootenay River. This makes a refreshing dip after a hard night of dancing really accessible. Dancing was definitely on the agenda.

The organizers had a great line-up of music, spread between three stages. The main stage is located at the end of a big field - which is also the main camping area for the event. Camping is random, so stake out a nice piece of realestate and set up camp. Bring earplugs if you want to get some sleep - or choose to camp at the furthest end of the field away from the stage. It's a little further to walk, but provides a little more peace and quiet.

The other two stages are located just over a dyke - which does offer a bit of an obstacle to manage. Last year a slightly sketchy bridge was built to help people move back and forth, it held up, but barely. Be prepared with some good grippy shoes! This is definitely a hazard that may add a little more challenge to your night.

The beach stage is set up with some great visuals stationed in and around the lush forest. Lazers bounce and reflect off the leaves as the trees seem to sway to the beats. Hoopers and fire people spin their skills providing dancers with extra entertainment. The fallen trees around make great resting places for tired bodies.

The vendors at this event are sparse but great - a couple of food vendors (provides a great hot cup of coffee in the morning!) and Bolli Imports. Bolli Imports, owned and operated by Adrian Bolli, adrianbolli@gmail.com, provides event goers with a huge assortment of items to choose from. Clothing, jewellery, musical instruments - you name it, he has it. If you can't find it - ask him, he may just have exactly what you are looking for tucked away in a Rubbermaid container somewhere.

The music line-up was an eclectic mix and provided something for everyone. You can see the schedule here: http://brewmanproductions.com/bands/bands.html
Always a favourite in my books is Adam Shaihk, both with a band and without. Each night was a little different and the music helped create an energized vibe that kept things shaking over the weekend. I'm still not too sure about dubstep - but there was lots of it on the 'middle' stage if you are into that groove.

Overall, it was a fun, laid-back festival that brought together people from Interior BC and Western Alberta. A great way to kick off the season. Good grooves, visuals, vibes and people.

I've heard through the grapevine though that the organizers may not bring it next year. Too many hassles with the town of Creston. Shame. I'm sure the event brings a nice early season boost to the local economy. Not sure what the issues were, but I hope they can come to an agreement.

Cabarete - Nightlife Part Two.

April 09

The first night I wandered down the beach, absorbing the scene and seeking my muse. It was pretty quiet the night that I arrived. I walked all the way to the end of the strip.

About the half-way point a couple of bars were blasting some Reggaeton. Here's a great example if you're interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5zdwImXOuo Lot's of booty griding and shaking. Quite amuzing to watch the white gals shake it next to the locals. OK, there's a few who are competent - and I hate to stereotype... but... or should that be 'butt'!

The music became more contemporary further toward Kite Beach, some top 20 pop and a little bit of rock and roll. Then... at the very last restaurant, I heard it. A DJ. Spinning good music. Perfect end to the stroll. I leaned against a palm tree to check out the scene and hoped to look nonchalant, I eventually couldn't help myself and started dancing.

Then it started to rain. So, everyone crammed under a little canopy where the DJ and the food was and I got to know some of the locals. Cool people. All of the folks I met were expats making a living in Cabarete. One of them, Christin Birkhin, is a realtor in the area and she rents out accommodations for longer term tennants. Gorgeous places worth looking at if you want to stay longer than a month. One of her friends Jens Hocher was there with his camera - you can check out his amazing work at www.jenshocher.com I also met Cristin, an American, a few Dutch people, you get the picture - pretty multi-national.

Andre Buljat was spinning, along with another DJ - I didn't catch his name. They were in Cabarete for a huge party the next weekend. That happened to be Easter, or Semana Santa, and the biggest party of the year in the DR.

OK, I must say, this was just the beginning of the party season for me, and I wasn't ready for the huge party. Yet. Besides, I hadn't planned my visit with this in mind, so all the hotel rooms were booked in town. So, short story is, I rocked off to the mountains for some downtime.

More than 50 000 people, locals and tourists alike, hit this small beach town to party for Semana Santa.

Here's a couple videos of the craziness (I don't know these people - just found their videos on youtube):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjR7O3_KFr8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF1q_VzIGqM&feature=related

If you watch the long video, you can see how each of the main bars on the strip are sponsored by one of the big liqour companies and these companies build HUGE stages right on the beach. Funny enough, I met the girl in the blue dress who is latin dancing - she was from Romania (I think)!! Small world. Each of these stages blasts music - and since they are literally a few meters apart, you can imagine the noise!
The second video is pretty poor quality - but then, probably reflective of peoples' general perceptions in the evenings of Semana Santa in Cabarete. Blurry and loud.

I heard that it WAS a crazy scene and worth checking out if you are up for it!! Book EARLY for a place to stay if you are going there over Easter. And be prepared not to sleep if you are ANYWHERE close to the beach. The bars stay open until 4 AM - and people generally blare their music from car speakers 24/7.

Bring ear plugs.

Cabarete - Nightlife Part One.

March 09
Ah, the heat. Glorious after five months of Canadian winter. I can feel my skin drinking in the humidity. Really, my hands are smoother after only a few hours, it's delicious.

Cabarete.

Arrival was a little overwhelming. I always feel like such a big, dumb, target -kind of like a deer in the headlights. Over the years I've learned to walk around like I know what I'm doing when arriving in a strange place. However, I'm sure that all the locals take one look at me and think "Look at her - she's walking around like she wants me to think she knows what she is doing. Stupid foreigner."

So I put my hair up (which at this point is turning into an afro - a negative byproduct of the aformentioned humidity), put some lipstick on, check the stubble on my white legs (still within acceptable limits) and head out to explore the night.

You can see the main area of the Cabarete beach - just follow the lights and you'll arrive. There is a very lively and engaging group of restaurants and bars side-by-side on the main beach. Each has its own unique theme inside that spills out onto the beach. Think clean, chic, white couches and table cloths in the sushi place, and nextdoor at the Irish pub "Jose Oshay's" chunky, sturdy stand-up-to-any-shennanigans hardware. Visually, it is quite something as each bar has decorated its space with theme-appropriate stuff. Elegant paper lanterns, delicate Christmas lights, colourful silks all adorn the palm trees and blow gently in the breeze, table candles lure visitors to come sit with their twinkles.

The whole strip is about a kilometre long, with thirty or so establishments, and is very eclectic. You can have almost any dining and/or drinking experience you want. Interspersed between the eating places are shops, usually supplying goods and services that take advantage of Cabarete's main adventure tourist draw - the wind. Think windsurfing and kitesurfing. Again, lots of yummy eye candy around. Both sports are physically demanding and the people in the area are serious about their athletic pursuits. Lean, tanned, flexible, strong... did someone turn up the heat in here? Ahem.

Then there's the dancing. The Dominicans love to dance and play music. Loud music.

More next blog.

Dominican Republic - Cabarete

Well, after some thought and deliberation - as in, where can I go that I haven't been that has palm trees and has reasonable airfare from Calgary mid March - I decided
to go and explore the Dominican Republic.

Good decision. This colourful little country has lots to see and do - including great places to party.

I flew into Puerto Plata - WestJet has direct flights there during the Winter - as it was near the end of season, prices weren't too bad. They have flights to Punta Cana and La Romana airports too - so easy access to the DR from Cowtown (Calgary's nickname for all you who don't know). I chose Puerto Plata because there was surfing nearby and, from all accounts, a fun little place called Cabarete.

I got to know the guy sitting beside me on the plane. He'd been to the DR several times, so he knew the ins and outs of the airport. It's always a little overwhelming, being a single female, to arrive in an airport in a developing country. When you have only sketchy language skills it adds a little extra adrenaline to your day. Trust me.


The guy explains to me that Cabarete is a little more than an hour away from Puerto Plata (he's on his way to Sosua - about half way in between) and that there are a few options to get there. Taxi is the most expensive, Gua-Gua is the second most expensive, and Motoconcho is the cheapest. There are good reasons for this. But... I don't want to bore anyone who cares to be reading this blog about the small details. If anyone is interested, I'll add another blog about travel in the DR.

The point is I arrived in Cabarete (by taxi this time!) and got settled into my hotel. Initially I stayed at the Alegria Hotel. A nice, clean, cozy hotel tucked just off the beach. Here's a link to accommodations in the area: http://www.activecabarete.com/lodging/ I also stayed at Ali's Surf Camp, or Cabarete Surf Camp. This place is a fantastic spot to meet people. If you are travelling alone and feel the need to connect with some like-minded adventurers, you might want to check it out. Either head down there for dinner - they have a delicious fixed-price communal meal every night for their guests - sign up for a surf day, or book yourself into their space. They have a great range of accommodations from small, sparse bungalows to fully stocked apartments. You'll find whatever you need there. Including the party!


It's a diverse little village and really an active 'hub' for the North coast of the DR.

This also means that when you party, you are partying with some very fit, delicious looking people... from all over the world. Yum.

So, I got settled in and then decided to go out explore the nightlife.

So... what happens when you get a large sum of money and time to spend it?

Well, let me tell you what happens. It becomes your mission to visit as many big parties as you can.

For research purposes, of course.

Seriously. I've always imagined throwing super fun-tastic boogielicious events, so over the last six months I've experience as many shakers as I could.
Luckily for me I had an equally keen cohort along for the proverbial ride, so they also have lots of stories to share and expand upon mine. I'll be hitting them up for their input, so watch for guest blogs now and then.

Now that I've got some time to sit and think and reflect, I'm excited to share with you the highlights.

Hopefully, you'll have the chance to visit at least one of the wonderful places and festivals that I did at some point in your life.

I plan on keeping the faith and adding to this blog as often as I can. A long time, I hope.