Washington DC Kicks Off Caribbean American Heritage Month with Home Again at the Caribbean Film Festival

The demand for this film was incredible. It opened in theaters in Canada two months ago, and has received overwhelming praise.  I talked to Sudz Sutherland on opening day about two things, the film and his family.  The two are so intertwined that while they seemed like separate conversations, they weren't.  It was very easy to see that he does what he does for his family - with his family.  He and his wife, Jennifer Holness, wrote the script together.

I was thrilled to hear that the movie was coming to Washington, DC - well, close. AFI Silver in Silver Spring, Maryland is the host theater for the 2013 Caribbean Film Festival.  As I sat in line for the parking garage, and watched the line grow in front of the theater, I knew that I wasn't the only one who was looking forward to seeing Home Again.  There were rumblings of the film being sold out, and then a theater employee came to let us know that they would be setting up chairs, but at this point, it was filled to capacity... oversold, actually.

Luckily, I made it in, and found a seat, right up front.

My official review is coming soon, but in the meantime, check out the trailer here...

I will tell you this. I was literally blown away.  Follow me on Twitter (@socamomdc) for updates and a link to my official review here and on EvaLoves.com (@whatevaloves). For more on the DC Caribbean Film Festival, click here: http://www.afi.com/silver/films/2013/v10i2/dccaribbeanfilmfest.aspx

Add a comment

Add Some #Caribbean Flavor to Your Sugar Cookies

You see those? Those were last night's dessert - sugar cookies.  I say "were" because there wasn't a crumb left when I went downstairs for my "can't sleep" snack.

I knew something was up when I couldn't stop eating the dough. Raw eggs? What raw eggs? This was just good. Food safety? What food safety?

I used a very basic sugar cookie recipe.  You can find one on AllRecipes.com or use one that you already have.  Mine had 2 1/4 cups of flour, 2 sticks of softened butter, 1 1/2 cups of sugar (or so), 1 egg, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of baking soda.

After that, it got interesting.  I can't tell you how much of each that I added (because I can't remember), but it was amounts similar to when you add vanilla extract to something.

You want some amazing sugar cookies with some Caribbean flare? In addition to vanilla extract, try adding these...

Add a comment Read more...

Ask a Blogger: Friends and Family Edition [RECAP w/ VIDEO]

If you missed our session on blogging and time management for new bloggers, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8JkQcn5dzY

Read more about how we did it - http://evaloves.com/this/index.php/19-blog/blogging/25-eva-loves-blogging-ask-a-blogger-friends-and-family-edition

Why we did it - http://evaloves.com/this/index.php/19-blog/blogging/28-eva-loves-blogging-fear-of-a-blog-planet

See what people thought and get links to resources we discussed - http://evaloves.com/this/index.php/19-blog/blogging/30-eva-loves-blogging-video-ask-a-blogger-was-amazing

Add a comment

2013 DC Caribbean Film Festival

2013 DC Caribbean Filmfest Schedule: May 31–June 2

(information and tickets available here: http://www.afi.com/silver/films/2013/v10i2/dccaribbeanfilmfest.aspx)

From AFI.com -

In recognition of Caribbean Heritage Month in June, AFI Silver is proud to host screenings of the DC Caribbean Filmfest, now in its 13th year. The festival is co-presented by Caribbean Association of World Bank and IMF Staff (CAWI), Caribbean Professional Network (CPN), Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and TransAfrica.

AFI Member passes accepted at all screenings.

Opening Night: HOME AGAIN

Returning to a "home" they hardly knew, three deportees from very different backgrounds adjust to life in Kingston, Jamaica, after being exiled from their adopted countries. Marva (Tatyana Ali, THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR) struggles to adapt, longing for the two kids she was forced to leave behind in Canada. New Yorker Dunston (Lyriq Bent, FOUR BROTHERS, SAW series) turns to Rastafarianism as he gets caught in an escalating gang war. Everton (Stephan James, DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATION), an upper-crust London schoolboy, learns to live life on the streets. A sweltering drama, this film is a timely critique of immigration policy, but more importantly, a redemptive story about discovering one’s roots. Official Selection, 2012 Toronto Film Festival; 2013 Pan African Film Festival.

DIR/SCR/PROD Sudz Sutherland; SCR/PROD Jennifer Holness; PROD Don Carmody, Anita Lee. Canada/Jamaica, 2012, color, 104 min. In English. NOT RATED

Post-screening reception, featuring an assortment of tropical-flavored ice cream, courtesy of Caribbean Professional Network (CPN).

Fri, May 31, 7:15 - Tickets available here: http://www.afi.com/silver/films/2013/v10i2/dccaribbeanfilmfest.aspx

 

Add a comment Read more...

Anancy! Anansi! Festival Returns to Washington DC - June 15, 2013

Download the press release here:  Anancy! Anansi! Festival Returns to Washington DC on June 15, 2013

SocaMom.com is once again partnering with the Institute for Caribbean Studies (icsdc.org) and AnancyFestival.com to present Anancy! Anansi! Folklore and Storytelling Festival.

Last year was fantastic, and this year we have even more wonderful stories for the young and the young at heart.

Enjoy a storytelling, face painting, movies, an art competition, and more.  The first 100 families to register at anancyfestivaldc.eventbrite.com will receive a free Anancy storybook*!

Face painting, Movie, Storytelling, Arts and Crafts, Art Competition and more!

FREE ANANCY STORYBOOKS* FOR THE FIRST 100 FAMILIES TO REGISTER!

June 15th from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL)

901 G St, NW, Washington, DC

CHINATOWN METRO STOP (GREEN/YELLOW/RED LINE)

Anancy (Ananse or Anansi) is the West African trickster hero of numerous folk tales that are popular across the Caribbean and throughout the African Diaspora. This clever and conniving character is familiar to millions of people around the world.

Anansy! Anansi! Festival is a celebration of the Caribbean’s diverse and spectacular cultural heritage, both traditional and contemporary, and is designed to have special appeal to the young and young at heart.

Download the press release here: Anancy! Anansi! Festival Returns to Washington DC on June 15, 2013

This year, the Anancy Festival will be held in Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Washington DC, Atlanta, New York, Nairobi (Kenya), Accra (Ghana) and Kingston (Jamaica).

For more information on the Washington, DC event, including art competition entry forms and guidelines, visit www.socamom.com.  To learn about the other events in other cities, visit www.anancyfestival.com. There are more wonderful events for Caribbean American Heritage month listed at www.caribbeanamericanmonth.org.

*Book may be paperback or eBook. While supplies last. One per family.

Download the press release here:  Anancy! Anansi! Festival Returns to Washington DC on June 15, 2013

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER - FREE

Add a comment

Sunday Best: Jamaican Flag Bow Tie

Image: SwaggerandSwoon.com

This was just too cool not to share with you guys! This bow tie is from Swagger and Swoon, a British men's accessory website that has been featured in a ton of magazines, and for good reason.

This tie is only £16 or so, and they have free international shipping on orders over £50 (not including shipping).  Keep in mind that if you are going to get something from their site for Father's Day here in the US, you will need to order and order soon, because it will take about 14 days or so to get here. For more information on their international shipping policy, click here.

Get more info: Swagger and Swoon's website | Swagger and Swoon on Twitter

Add a comment

Got Questions about Blogging? Ask Me!

Got questions about blogging? Just curious about the whole thing? Looking to start a blog? Want to make your blog bigger? Ask me here bit.ly/askablogger, and my blogging friends and I will answer them live on YouTube on Wednesday, May 22 at 9 PM.

Who are my blogging friends? Glad you asked...

Shai from HireShai.com and ShaiUnfiltered.Tumblr.com | @shaiunfiltered on Twitter | Fleur Management on Facebook | ShaiUnfiltered on Pinterest

Rae from FromRaeWithLove.com | @fromraewithlove on Twitter | From Rae with Love on Facebook

Tanisha from GirlMeetsGlass.Tumblr.com | @girlmeetsglass on Twitter | Girl Meets Glass on Facebook

Me from SocaMom.com and EvaLoves.com | @socamomdc and @whatevaloves on Twitter | SocaMom and EvaLoves on Facebook | socamom on Pinterest

Any questions that we don't have time to answer on YouTube will be answered on Twitter and Facebook. If you miss it, the video will be available on our blogs afterwards. Looking forward to your questions!

Add a comment

Paradise in 24 Hours... Caribbean Shoe Style

You love it right?  It just screams Caribbean fabulous to me - I have reached my shoe budget for the month already, but if you still have $26.99, you can snag these babies in red, blue, or yellow.  The MSRP is $65.00, so its no surprise that the last time I checked, there were only a few left on Ideeli.com.

Ideeli.com is my go to site when I need a quick shoe fix - you know, some retail therapy after a hard day with the kids. You have to join, the membership is free, but definitely worth it.  The site is as addictive as gambling (if not more) so if you have those issues, steer clear!

If you are lucky enough to get these beauties, snap a pic and post it in the comments - we wanna see!

Looking for more shoes? Check out my new blog, EvaLoves.com.

Add a comment