Entertainment in Port of Spain VS San Fernando
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| The View of the San Fernando From San Fernando Hills |
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| Panoramic View of Port of Spain From Fort George |
DAY
ENTERTAINMENT IN THE CITY
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| National Museum Service Royal Victoria Institute |
Port of Spain and San Fernando seems to share
one particular similarity via the highest points within the city. In Port of
Spain the highest point is known as Fort George and in San Fernando the highest
point is called San-Fernando Hills. Fort George has a lot of historical
components attached to its existences and its popularity throughout Trinidad.
Just as San Fernando Hills it is a major adventurous tourist attraction. This
area was built in the 1804 during the term of the British Governor Sir Thomas
Hislop. This area was one of the main defensive areas in Port of Spain. During
that time cannon ball were loaded into the cannons and shot out at sea.
Currently here is a little historical chamber that treasures the artifacts of
the historical aspects of Fort George. The ambience is as tranquil as it can
get on the highest point, where the hassle and bustle of the city seems to be
just a spec in the distance as it freezes time and allows you to experience the
surreal scenery and intake the crisp high altitude air. Compared to San
Fernando Hills there are no ceremonies and parties but it’s the perfect place
for photos and spending quality time with your loved ones. Dayne Reece a
blogger also posted his experience visiting Fort George. http://daynereece.blogspot.com/2015/03/fort-george.html?fb_action_ids=10155200877800467&fb_action_types=og.shares
San-Fernando
hill was historically known as Naparima Hills and is used for recreational
entertainment, reception area for outdoor weddings and indoors and high end
parties, family reunions and high school reunions. During each season
throughout the years there are activities that are held for the participation
of the surrounding population, there is also the adoring of the hills for
Diwali and Christmas by the lighting of an ornament to represent the occasion.
This highlights the hills for miles beyond and can be seen from areas surround
the San- Fernando Hills.
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| Visiting the zoo: A little boy is patiently awaiting for his ticket to enter the zoo to view the two most recent addition of Bengal baby cubs. |
Apart from a visit to the Museum, zoo, or
Fort George there is the always a number of sports entertainment activities
that takes place at the Queen Park Oval, Hasely Crawford Stadium and at the
Savannah. The Queens park oval attracts mainly the national and international
cricket matches whereas the Hasely Crawford attracts Football. These sporting
activities vary with time and can be held during the day or at night. The
Savannah is used for sporting activities for children and practice matches for
football players around the area and for exercise activities. There is also the
grand kite flying competition that takes place during Easter.
http://www.guardian.co.tt/entertainment/2015-03-03/festival-music-students
In the city of San-Fernando sporting
activities are limited to local and regional, Skinners Park allow for the
residents of the southern hemisphere to have access for recreational purposes.
Adjacent to the park is SAPA (Southern Academy for the Performing Arts) and
both facilities are used throughout the year for entertainment purposes, such
as comedy festivals, local singing concerts and other local competitions.
Food is a dominant part of our culture. Fine
dining during the day are among one of the “brain cooler” away from work on
lunch breaks at the many restaurants and lounges in Port of Spain. The Cuisine
in the urban area have a vast selection of mouth waters dishes that can take
you across the world only to realize that it is influences by the mixture of
culture and races within our rainbow country. There is a selection of local
foods from the local restaurants; paleu, calallo, provisions, stew and curried
dishes just to name a few. There is also the international cuisine that can be
bought from the fine dining restaurants such as Texas de Brazil, More Vino, The
Waterfront Restaurant, Rassams, and Golden Bell Korean Restaurant among many
others. Some of the international restaurants have been influenced by the
migration of people from other countries to Trinidad with the venture of establishing
businesses within the entertainment sector, most of which were successful. Even
though it’s a part of entertainment during the day, fine dining have seem to
draw a larger portion of the population during weekends and at night and is a
booming industry in Trinidad as the city never sleeps at night. In San Fernando
the most recent and very popular fine dining restaurant is Krave.
NIGHT
ENTERTAINMENT
Street entertainments at night seem to be a
thing of the present and a trend for “limers” and entertainment seekers.
Certainly an influence of modern times as entertainment has become diversified
throughout the years. Street entertainment is mostly popular on Aripita Avenue
and in the Woodbrook area, whereas the later are ranked as an area for high income
earners. The Avenue comes to life at night with many street vendors and lounges
that made accommodation for their customer’s as close to the street as
possible. Among night entertainments, journeying to the Movies or Cinema have
always been among the most popular, from outdoor open air screens to the more
modern indoor cozy cinemas such as Movie Town and Digicel IMAX. Even though
common during the day viewing a movie at night just seems to be the prefect
entertainment selection for relaxation.
New development for entertainment is taking a
new direction in the area of San Fernando on entrance to the city in the
vicinity of the Tarouba Link Road, with the development of South Park Caribbean
Cinemas 10. Recently opened for southerners, it is the latest entertainment
center that comprises ten auditoriums, stadium seating for 1000 people, giants
screens four with 3D technology, an arcade game room, two party rooms and a
concession and deli café. http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business/Sando-gets-cineplex-271471861.html
Ten
minutes away there is the development of the second entertainment project by
the Movie Town Management, creating competition at adding to the development of
the adjacent areas to the city, bringing forth urban land use theories and
practices. These projects have been influenced by the growing population in the
south region of Trinidad creating employment opportunities and growth and
development of the area. This increases the value of land and empty spaces that
surrounds the city.
Theater entertainment which includes
drama shows based on local life and comedy festivals have seem to grow and is
one of the many events that the locals look forward to. Not quite
internationally publicized and advertised but the market for genres in local
drama have seemed to be drawing a lot of local actors. A major producer of
these shows is Randy Glasgow Productions and is creating avenues for
development and growth. These shows are usually held at the National Academy
For the performing Arts and Queens Hall in Port of Spain. Whereas in San
Fernando its held at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts and at the
Naparima Bowl.
Casinos are popular gambling joints from
around the world, both in Port of Spain and San Fernando several can be found
and are visited by many high end income earners to medium income earners. It’s
an entertainment that one can get addicted to and becomes part of a regime.
Casablanca, Players on the Avenue, Ma Pau are some of the casinos in Port of
Spain, in San Fernando there is also Ma Pau one of the most popular, Club Monte
Carlo and Club Regal. For those who are seeking a more upbeat and
party vibes entertainment usually venture to find the best of the night clubs
that plays a variety of the local Soca and Chutney music with a mixture of
international songs. Clubs are usually at its peak of explosion around 11 pm
until 3-4 am the next morning. Trinidad is one of the best places to experience
a social life with an epic party atmosphere. Club entertainment became a part
of the urban lifestyle and culture as it varies to the rural areas with small
scale bars for small gathering and “hang out spots” and is considered to be
less casual than the city. The club in the Port of Spain area attracts citizens
from around the country who wants to experience the culture of night life.
Hence the cost of food and drinks are very pricey when compared to night life
entertainment at clubs in the city of San-Fernando. It brings people of
different races and cultural background together for enjoyment purposes.
In conclusion entertainment within the city
take the form of my activities more so than what have been described in the
blog above. After describing entertainment on both cities we can conclude that
there are more similarities than differences. Where both places attract people
from surrounding areas and even further. Access to some entertainment centers
are based on gross income and one’s financial ability to afford such. Social
status and ranks in society influences social stratification even when it comes
to entertainment and are at a high percentage in the city. One particular
example is at a night club in Port of Spain, is segmented into different levels
according to what people can afford. Whereas in “free” public spaces, income,
races, religion does not matter, it’s accessible to all citizens for relaxation
and enjoy.
Other
Urban entertainment includes:
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the national waterfront
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Party Cruises (both Port of Spain and most recently at San Fernando King’s Warf)
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Usage of Public parks for entertainment by children and adults.
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Street entertainment; to be discussed in another post.
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Shopping/window shopping
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