REMEMBER RIO GRANDE. The totally ridiculous idea to recreate Rio Grande reminded me of a Taxidermist’s plan to kill and skin a rare bird in order to stuff and mount it as a trophy. The bird is dead, the trophy is dust-collecting. Rio Grande was demolished by bulldozers the morning after Landa Henriquez’ successful Cultura di Aruba concert. I find this very ironic and offensive. How do you safeguard our culture like that? There is a big discrepancy between what you say and what you do. And the lame release by developer/businessman Raul Henriquez who simply did not want to spend the money for the monument’s upkeep, was such travesty. I think it is fair to ask Yvonne Webb from the Monumenten Bureau to respectfully resign. She knew the monument was in danger and her snail-paced reaction cost its life. She showed no sense of urgency, and the bulldozers got there first. Marlon Croes from DOW should also go home to reflect on the responsibilities of his watch, as the head of our public works department. And the minister of infrastructure who remained silent as a lamb through this week, can also take an unpaid leave of absence as far as I am concerned, there has been enough damage done for one week. As you understand, I am very unhappy with those three captains, in fact appalled by the depressing news, which caught me totally by surprise, after I finished Bati Bleki last week. I’m very disappointed that we allow this to happen. And when I asked Webb for her reaction she said and I am quoting: No, sadly we cannot even cry anymore over spilled milk. Really, is that all you could bring yourself to say. Some of the stories which surfaced in regards to the demolition reported that DOW generously gave the developer of BK the parking lot, sitting on public land, as erfpacht, to build the drive-through. A gentleman agreement to save the structure was self understood as part of that deal. But alas, we’re not dealing with gentlemen. I heard about a court case debating a loan, which turned into a so-called down payment for the doomed property. It’s all ugly. I never liked Burger King’s products, and I intend to never ever go near it.
EMERALDA BOUTIQUE OPENING AT THE ORANGE PLAZA. We were invited to a charming boutique opening on Friday evening, at the Orange Plaza. Emeralda Boutique, promoting everyday chic is the creation of Lalita Brongersma and her team. In her opening remarks Lalita revealed she always wanted to be in fashion and now that her kids are grown, she can devote time to the realization of her dream. The opening of an affordable fashion boutique, she says, showcases her connections in the fashion world with great styles, at great prices. The party was nicely catered by the neighboring cafe, Shon Gecko, with tasty snacks and Pega Pega Merlot, a wine bottled in Aruba. Lalita organized a small fashion show in honor of her guests, with very tastefully dressed models, showing off some of the styles available, and their matching accessories. Open every day, except Sunday.
WE ENJOYED A CUSTOMER APPRECIATION WEEK PARTY. This was the nicest and most generous customer appreciation party ever, given at the Marriott Aruba Resort & Stellaris Casino, by the Sales, Marketing & Events teams, at the H2Oasis pool, with DJ NutzBeatz perched on an electronic music altar against a shimmering backdrop. The resort’s chefs and bartenders busied themselves making mini stuffed arepas, Chinese stir-fried everything, sushi without boundaries, dessert galore and yummy craft cocktails, for a select crowd of clients and press members. I had a deconstructed Cosmopolitan Martini with a crown of cranberry foam, immediately after my kiwi-infuse champagne flute, and was prepared to stay for two weeks, or more if required to finish all the food and all the libations, right there on the pool deck with some of the nicest people in hospitality: Stacey Banfield, Helen Ruiz, Carolina Voullieme, Tom Calame, Chef Miguel Garcia, Chef Romeo Penacino and my new friend Aisling Seberry, the Director of Revenue Analysis!
RESERVEARUBA.COM IS READY TO LAUNCH. The website goes live on November 14th with a press conference and a pool party at the Renaissance Marina Resort, and it comes to us courtesy of Toine Van Donk, who spent more than a year developing the giant, easy and friendly reservations portal. With Nabhilach de Palm as his sidekick, the two are planning a mega event and hoping for a positive response from locals and guests living to make a fast reservation, without having to hang on the phone forever. Toine is well known on the island from his work on the Electronic Festival and his collaboration with DJ Chuckie. Nabhilach, glamour girl, model and TV personality recently added another title to her name, fitness pole dancer, as a student at the Kitty Kitty studio on Italiestraat.
SWINGING BRUNCH. Werner Vennen reports that the Taste of Belgium restaurant at the Palm Beach Plaza Mall is starting a swinging a la carte Sunday brunch, just like the one we remember from the good ol’ days of Le Dome. You may swing back and forth among menu highlights with breakfast items such as Omelette Bruxelles; hot appetizers, Escargots Le Dôme, Croquette de Cervettes & Formage; cold appetizers, Tataki de Thon or Carpaccio de Boeuf; main courses Poulet à la Kriek, Carbonades Flamandes, or Médaillons de Fromage Bleu and for dessert Moulleux Lava Cake, or Profiteroles, just to name a few. The swinging affair is served from 11am to 3pm.
AN EXCITING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY. Sanaa Baroud the director of the Pension Fund Tourism Sector Aruba, recently launched an exclusive offer for PFTSA members, as the fund is developing a residential neighborhood in Jan Flemming, with eleven private homes, in 70mt2, 80mt2 or 90mt2 configurations. The development is centrally located and boasts a contemporary design with fully fenced homes graced with superior infrastructure. The turn key project requires 0 down-payment and is 100% financed by the PFTSA, at 6.75% interest. The homes starting at Awg 180.000, are selling out fast. So hurry up, become a member of the pension fund and get yourself a new home before Christmas. PFTSA is located on Vondellaan 21-B, drop in for more information.
BARNEY’S INTRODUCES FAJITAS. From the 30th of November, Barney’s is switching things up a bit. They will be open on Mondays and closed on Sundays. Which is great because every once in a while after my exercise class on Monday, I feel like having some of their yummy food! And talking about food, from November 3rd on, they are introducing a new special, all-you-can-eat-fajitas, for $19.50, beef, pork, chicken, grouper or vegetarian served with salsa, guacamole, sour cream, salad, cheese and tortilla wraps, just what the doctor prescribed! Eline Scheele, who own the restaurant with adorable hubby Ron Huijbers, and an equally charming baby girl, gave the restaurant a rather silly name, Barney’s, but there is nothing silly about the food chef Jan Scherrenburg serves. It is excellent.
LITTLE SWITZERLAND HOSTS A FUN EVENT. Michael Stauber, representing Rebecca, a stylish rose gold jewelry line was in Aruba last week, and helped host a cocktail party at the retail store in town, at Royal Plaza. Rebecca offers big bang for your bucks, because it deviated from the traditional and costly pure gold, to use a special 24 karat gold plating process, combined with Swarovski crystals, semi precious gems and innovative designs. Rebecca created a worldwide phenomenon of Italian Fashion Jewelry, beautiful affordable and fun adornments. Rebecca’s founder, Alessandro Testi, who was born in Italy named his gorgeous jewelry line after his first daughter and the designs are inspired by fun, chic, exotic destinations and tribal artifacts. The party at Little Switzerland was hosted by Nathalie van Trijkt and her crew, Mario Harms, Humphrey Odor, and gave the girls, Cristine Hintz, Ligenne Trimon and Jacqueline Wernet-Suttle an excuse to go out and try everything stunning on. [email protected]
