As times have changed and I’ve gotten older, my Carnival outings have altered. One of the biggest changes have been how much more economic I am with my money during the festival season. When I was much younger, I would spend excess amounts of money just to party, from Lions to Jouvert, nothing was too expensive to guarantee loads of fun. Fast forward to 5 years later and with car payments, bills and educational responsibilities I’ve had to prioritize my Carnival merriment.

One very big change is that I find it very difficult to substantiate paying for an all-inclusive fete that doesn’t provide both food and drinks. I like being spoilt, so an event that provides everything will always get my vote. It was this new thought processes that lead me to the Carnival Breakfast Fete at By Betty’s in August 2010. I had never seen an advertisement for the event, but I had two friends who’d attended the previous two years and continually boasted about the atmosphere. Fed up of their constant noise I ventured last year to see what all the talk was about; I was not disappointed. I left Soca Monarch in the early hours of Sunday morning, went home and slept for two hours, and then I got up, got ready and went with an empty stomach and high expectations for something good. What I got was something great.

Wondering how much fun I had? I got there at 7.00 am and left after 2.00 pm, that was how serious the situation was. I only left at the time that I did because I had another engagement. It pained me to leave, especially since everyone was still partying the afternoon away. The drinks kept coming, and the food was delicious. Actually let me be raw, it ‘min bang good’. I sat under the tree and ate my true Antiguan breakfast that compromised of egg, saltfish, chop-up and bakes with quiet yet intense contentment. The most intimate thing to me was that you could actually see the cooks as they prepared the food. From the pot, to the plate to my stomach, it was heaven. Later on when the scent of the kitchen caught my nose again, I went back for chicken and season rice, oh what a beautiful thing it was. The atmosphere was casual, offering you the comfort of a family barbeque. The crowd was by my estimation 250/300 people mingling and dancing to the sweet sounds of Carnival. You had the option of tents to shade under, or you could sit at the uncovered picnic tables, or do like me and park yourself under a nice shady tree. I felt so relaxed; the only thing missing was a pool or beach. The rustic bathrooms also added another element that contributed to mood of the venue.

The entertainment was top notch; deejays were spinning a mixture of local and regional Soca music, with the highlight being a live performance from Trinidad’s music icons The Baron and Explainer. The atmosphere at Breakfast Fete was really a treat, I didn’t feel like a babysitter infringing on a kiddie lime. It was mainly adults in attendance, dancing and jamming, having good clean fun. Value for your money is key, and By Betty’s Carnival Breakfast Fete proved itself the best at accomplishing an environment that is not only safe but fun that encompasses the definition of a mature lime. The fete is some what a secret and unknown to most, with no advertisements in the media, no Facebook event invites, no email forwards, just a friend who told a friend who told a friend who told a friend that told me.

Some secrets are meant to kept, others are too good to keep to you, and this one was one. So now that I’ve let the cat out of the bag, make it a date to get a ticket and go on out to the By Betty’s Breakfast Fete, I guarantee you a great time. I will be the girl sitting under the shady tree with a big plate of food. 

The Breakfast Fete will be happening at By Betty’s on Sunday July 31st. Tickets are available at Mademoiselle Shoe Store located at Village Walk Mall. The cost is $100, call 560-2165 for more information.

-------------------

Linisa George is a blogger, writer, poet, playwright and director; an all-round creative soul bursting with energy. Visit her blog ‘Motives and Thoughts’ at www.linisageorge.blogspot.com.