I love Sanchez, but OMG, I'm so excited that one of my fav singers Nicola Lionfish is performing with him. Please guys, give them (and her especially) your full suport. Good music is well and alive!!!!

Oh and yeah please click HERE to check out Nicola Lionfish 20 Questions Interview with The Lime

Aight so you see this young woman, with curly hair, great skin and a slender figure many aspiring models would envy, Conscious Reggae singer is not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind. Don't? But that is what she is. Nicola Lionfish is an artist that I admire so much and I am thrilled to have her on The Lime in our special feature on Stars on the Rise. She is dedicated, focused and naturally blessed with a powerful voice and countenacne. Read on my people, read on...you know you wanna:-)


1. What does success mean to you?
Success to me is touching the hearts of many. There is no monetary means that could ever replace the feeling of making a difference in someones life by uplifting them through music. To know that my music video and tunes have circulated the globe and brought about awareness is a great success in my opinion. To be recognized as a hard working artist, yes that too falls under the category of success to me.

2. What do you want to achieve in your field?
I wish to reach my next goal which was to always travel and perform on the stage. At some point further down in my career I would like to run my own studio and help other up and coming artist move forward.

3. What is the greatest sacrifice you have made so far in your career?
Everyday is a sacrifice. Each dollar that I earn goes towards my music as i have no sponsors and manage myself. I sacrifice all of my time for my music. My music comes first, there are some who may not ovastand that but it is what it is. However with everything I do, I do try to find a balance.


4. Though you already have a loyal following, do you ever fear that you won’t make it big?
I never fear that I could not buss or not make it big. Music is what I love and live for. Whether I make it further in the business or not I will always sing for those who want to hear. I will always love music so to me there is no loss either way; because it will always carry on.


5. What makes you stand out in your field?
My humbleness...the truth....feeling and being a grounded woman.


6. What is the best piece of advice you have been given and who was it from?
It would be from two people.One is an engineer I worked with in the past. He once asked me what is perfection? He said, if you make a tune perfect then it loses its character and depth. I never forgot that and applied it ever since. And the other person would be Everton Blender. He has been a great encouragement throughout my career.

7. What advice do you have for anyone trying to make it in your field?
My advice to other artists would be to stay focused. If music is what you love, take the rocky road. Anything that comes too fast or too easy is not good. If it takes long you are on the right path. Always be willing to learn. Only a fool knows everything and even the greatest of singers have to practice and better what they are already great at. Also, there are times where you feel discouraged like you have given all that you can. Stay positive and remember that if you doubt the Father, then why should he have faith in you. Have faith in yourself.

Click HERE to listen to her music and read her answers to our 20 Questions!

Danger Zone Music Group wishes to express its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mikey Pelpa. Over the years Danger Zone has had a productive relationship with the artiste and is deeply saddened by his untimely passing. CEO of Danger Zone Music Group Delmar ‘Della Danger’ Drummond who was a friend of Mikey Pelpa summed up the mood in the camp: “Mikey Pelpa was one of the young artistes on the Danger Zone roster. Words can’t explain the grief that has gripped the Danger Zone family; we are yet to come to terms with the news of the death of this young talented artiste. All members of the team remember Mikey as an artiste who was trying to use music to bring people together and who believed in the vision of Danger Zone Music Group which is Unification Through Music. Danger Zone misses Mikey Pelpa”.



Mikey Pelpa is noted for his collaboration with Lymie Murray, Emergency on the ‘Jam Down’ rhythm, Parental Guide on the Cloud Nine rhythm, Say What U Want on the ‘Pay Back’ rhythm and his recent release Mama Don't Worry At All. He was acclaimed for his focus on family values and once revealed: "Di yute dem haffi show respect and remember seh dem parents a di real guide. Me never diss my mother yet cause a she a mi real inspiration and if the yute dem inna the society focus pon that and transfer it to dem brother then evil will cut in half".

According to The Jamaica Star, Pelpa (born Micheal Augustus Lynch) drowned while trying to escape US authorities after traveling from Bahamas to Fl coast by boat.

Some scenes from Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too were shot in The Bahamas. Can't wait to see part Too. looks even better than the first!





Tyler Perry speaking at press conference in Bahamas

Zoe Kravitz, the 21-year old daughter of Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet was listed in Vanity Fair as one of its women to watch for in 2010.
Photographed in a Jasper Conran Spring 2010 RTW dress adorned with Tiffany & Co. earrings, the actress has four films due out this year.

The 6th edition of the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) takes place December 10-17, 2009 and will showcase 68 films from 26 countries, including 38 features of which several are world or international premieres and nearly all Bahamian premieres. The four competition categories at BIFF are Spirit of Freedom: Narrative; Spirit of Freedom: Documentary; New Visions; and Short Film. Special sections include a Caribbean Sidebar, World Cinema showcase, Hispanic Cinema Spotlight and special screenings.

Actor Johnny Depp to receive a Career Achievement award and this year's Festival



Among the films screening at BIFF this year are the drama SKIN starring Sophie Okonedo, BIFF’s Rising Star, from Director Anthony Fabian; Steven Soderbergh’s THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE starring Sasha Grey and Chris Santos; Joshua Goldin’s dark comedy WONDERFUL WORLD starring Matthew Broderick, the comedy BAGDHAD TEXAS from David H. Hickey, Mexican action/drama SIN NOMBRE and acclaimed documentaries SWEET CRUDE and HOUSE OF NUMBERS, to name a few.

Bahamian filmmaker Kareem Mortimer’s acclaimed indie drama CHILDREN OF GOD will raise the curtain at this year’s festival as the official Opening Night Film while Lee Daniels’ critically lauded drama PRECIOUS starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz, Monique, Sherri Shepherd and Paula Patton will bring the week’s festivities to an end as the official Closing Night film on Dec. 17th.

The stars will be shining brighter than ever at this year’s BIFF. Festival Patron Sir Sean Connery will again be lending his full support throughout the week. On Tuesday, December 15th, Bahamian Director of Photography Gavin Mckinney will be awarded the 1st Bahamian Tribute Award. Wednesday, December 16th, Academy Award® nominee Sophie Okonedo (“Hotel Rwanda,” “Skin,”) will be feted with the Festival’s special Rising Star tribute. Festival goers will also want to keep an eye out for rock icon Lenny Kravitz, celebrated filmmaker Lee Daniels and a host of Hollywood talent in town to celebrate cinema in paradise!

The full BIFF program is available in print or online at bintfilmfest.com Booking for the 2009 Festival is now open. Tickets can be purchased at the BIFF Office, 4th Terrace East Collins Ave.


About the Bahamas International Film Festival:

The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing the local community and International festival goers with a diverse presentation of films from The Bahamas and around the world. In addition to showcasing quality films that might not otherwise be released theatrically worldwide, BIFF provides unique cultural experiences, educational programs, and forums for exploring the past, present & future of cinema. BIFF and its founder and executive director Leslie Vanderpool aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout The Bahamas and the world.

The 2009 Bahamas International Film Festival runs from December 10th -17th and will open with the movie Children of God

Set against the backdrop of a nation grappling with violent homophobia, this film tells the story of Jon, a white Bahamian artist who faces losing his scholarship at a local University and Lena a conservative religious woman who is struggling with a crumbling marriage. Both escape city life in Nassau to the island of Eleuthera, where their worlds collide.

Directed by: Kareem Mortimer,
Produced by: Trevite Willis, Richard Lemay, Jay Gotlieb
Starring: Van Brown, Johnny Ferro Mark Ford, Margaret Kemp, Stephen Tyrone
Movie website: http://www.childrenofgodthemovie.com/

**Sidenote** Mortimer also had a film called FLOAT which won the audience award at the 2006 BIFF and is now being aired on a Viacom/MTV run station called Logo. It is up for Best Romance film of this season on the channels website so vote for them at
http://www.logoonline.com/shows/events/short_films/top_ranked.jhtml


And closing off the festival will be PRECIOUS

Introducing Gabourey Sidibe who stars in the movie

Winner of three awards at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, including the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition, Lee Daniels’s PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL “PUSH” BY SAPPHIRE is a vibrant, honest and resoundingly hopeful film about the human capacity to grow and overcome. Set in Harlem in 1987, it is the story of Claireece “Precious” Jones (Gabourey Sidibe), a sixteen-year-old African-American girl born into a life no one would want. She’s pregnant for the second time by her absent father; at home, she must wait hand and foot on her mother (Mo’Nique), a poisonously angry woman who abuses her emotionally and physically. School is a place of chaos, and Precious has reached the ninth grade with good marks and an awful secret: she can neither read nor write. Precious may sometimes be down, but she is never out. Beneath her impassive expression is a watchful, curious young woman with an inchoate but unshakeable sense that other possibilities exist for her. Threatened with expulsion, Precious is offered the chance to transfer to an alternative school, Each One/Teach One. Precious doesn’t know the meaning of “alternative,” but her instincts tell her this is the chance she has been waiting for. In the literacy workshop taught by the patient yet firm Ms. Rain (Paula Patton), Precious begins a journey that will lead her from darkness, pain and powerlessness to light, love and self determination.

Lionsgate in association with Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry present A Lee Daniels Entertainment / Smokewood Entertainment Group Production of PRECIOUS: BASEDON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE.
Starring:Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd, Lenny Kravitz and introducing Gabourey Sidibe,
Directed by: Lee Daniels
Written by: Geoffrey Fletcher
Movie Website: http://www.weareallprecious.com/

Lee Daniels and Cast Members in attendance.

FOR TICKETS PLEASE CALL 356-5939 or
Visit BIFF Box office NOVEMBER 17TH At the Bahamas International Film Festival Box Office4th Terrace East Collins Ave, Building 101st Floor.


Look out also for the movie Bottleworld!

'Bottleworld' is a comedy that revolves around a liquor store of the same name and is the story of Wilson, a new employee at Bottleworld, who enters a seemingly utopian environment and is welcomed by his co-workers and the store manager, Murray.
Wilson falls in love with Murray's daughter Chrissy and couldn't be happier with his new life. But when he overhears an employee plan to terrorize the store on a holiday, he warns Chrissy and Murray who downplay the threat but can't convince Wilson to do the same.
As holidays pass without incident, Wilson's priorities begin to appear misplaced but protecting the store is the challenge Wilson thinks he must meet if he's going preserve the comfortable life he has found in Bottleworld.

Directed by: Alexander Smith
Written by: Alexander Smith
Produced by: Nathaniel Kohn, Pamela Kohn
Starring: Anna Camp, Christopher Denham, Mya Harrison, Josh Caras, Lauren Karl, Peter Appel, Ptolemy Slocum, Scott Wilson, Shane McRae
Movie website: http://bottleworldmovie.com/index.html

Actress and singer Zoe Kravitz, the daughter of Lenny Kravitz (who boasts Bahamian heritage), is the new face of Vera Wang's "Princess" fragrance.

Photo source

I like these pics. They bring out her beauty and it's a welcome departure from her 'normal' look ;-)

Photo source

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Atlantis LIVE is pleased to present Carrie Underwood, the reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, the 3-time, reigning ACM and CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, and a 4-time Grammy winner with album sales of more than 10 million.



Click HERE for more info

The Queen of Comedy got her space in the growing talk-show industry when The Mo'Nique Show, premiered on October 5 at 11pm, as part of BET's new fall lineup. On Tuesday Nov,. 10th The Grammy-award winning, Billboard Chart topping, platinum selling dancehall superstar Sean Paul will be a guest and will also be performing on the show.

PHOTO CREDIT: GERRARD NEEDHAM

Also on the show is Bahamian-American Lenny Kravitz.

Two sexy Caribbean men! Wow! Mo'Nique should be in heaven!!!

Monique Show Official Website

The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) announced today that it has retained Rogers & Cowan, the world’s leading entertainment public relations and marketing agency, to handle international publicity for the 6th edition of the festival, taking place December 10-17, 2009.

Rogers & Cowan has overseen all publicity efforts as the agency of record for the last two Festivals. The announcement was made today by BIFF Founder and Executive Director, Leslie Vanderpool and Rogers & Cowan CEO, Tom Tardio.

Building on successful campaigns in 2007 and 2008 which have brought added international awareness to the burgeoning Festival, Rogers & Cowan will provide strategic planning and consultation and continue to build the Festival’s profile throughout the worldwide film community, as well as heightening general awareness for the Festival in the US.

Working closely with Vanderpool and her team, Rogers & Cowan will focus on Festival branding, targeted media outreach and event management leading up to the Festival. Associate Vice President Dennis Dembia will handle day to day management of the campaign, including oversight of the press office in Nassau during the Festival. Rogers & Cowan Executive Vice President, Nikki Parker, will continue to provide strategic direction and oversee the account. “BIFF has become a fixture in the film festival circuit and a festival that the industry and festival guests truly look forward to attending year after year.


BIFF is committed to showcasing quality films and provides the best exposure to all participants. Rogers & Cowan is a perfect partner to ensure that our mission is being carried out. Rogers & Cowan values the industry initiatives and opportunities that exist within the Bahamas and does a masterful job showcasing the quality of programs and events that BIFF presents.” Tardio commented, “We are very proud of the pivotal role the agency has played in growing the Bahamas International Film Festival over the past few years and are eager to embark on another campaign to strengthen its brand in the Caribbean, the U.S. and around the world.”

BIFF 2009 begins Thursday, December 10th in Nassau and runs through Thursday, December 17th. Additional announcements pertaining to the Festival will be made in the coming weeks.

About the Bahamas International Film Festival
The Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF) is a nonprofit organization committed to providing the local community and international festival-goers with a diverse presentation of films from the Bahamas and around the world. In addition to showcasing films that might not otherwise be released theatrically, BIFF provides unique cultural experiences, educational programs, and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema. BIFF aims to raise the level of filmmaking, participation and education throughout the Bahamas and the world.

About Rogers & Cowan
Rogers & Cowan is the world’s leading entertainment public relations and marketing agency with offices in Los Angeles, New York and London. The agency designs and implements campaigns for entertainment clients, such as film production and distribution companies, cable and network TV programming, records labels, recording artists, celebrities and athletes, videogame publishers and distributors and digital media companies. Rogers & Cowan also creates integrated marketing solutions for consumer brands seeking to build a connection with consumers through entertainment and lifestyle influences. Find out more at http://www.rogersandcowan.com/. Rogers & Cowan is a unit of the Interpublic Group of Companies.

John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston returned to a Bahamas courthouse on Wednesday, where the actor gave testimony in the trial of a pair of island medics charged with an extortion attempt made after the death of the couple’s son last winter. Travolta testified that the medic who attempted to extort money from his family threatened to claim the actor was responsible for his son Jett’s death.

According to The Associated Press, Travolta told the Bahamian court that paramedic Tarino Lightbourne blackmailed him and threatened to release “incriminating” evidence in Jett’s death to the international media unless The Travoltas ponied up over $25 million.
The actor said that Lightbourne threatened to “imply that the death of my son was intentional and I was culpable in some way.”
The medic reportedly claimed to have evidence that would finger Jett’s parents for his death.
Jett Travolta, 16, died of a seizure on January 2, 2009.
Source

From MSNBC:

[John] Travolta is the star witness at the trial of two people — paramedic Tarino Lightbourne and former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater — who are accused of trying to extort $25 million from the movie star. Both defendants pleaded innocent to extortion charges at the trial that began Monday in this island chain off the Florida coast.



Photo source

Travolta testified that he and Preston were awakened by a nanny around 10:15 a.m. on Jan. 2, the day of Jett’s death. Travolta said when he went downstairs, another caretaker was doing chest compressions and he began administering breathing help.

Travolta also said — apparently for the first time in public — that 16-year-old Jett was autistic, confirming speculation that had swirled for years. The developmental disorder is frequently accompanied by seizures.

“He was autistic. He suffered from a seizure disorder,” Travolta told the jury when asked about his son’s condition.

The actor said Jett suffered seizures every five to 10 days. He said the seizures would last 45 seconds to a minute and Jett typically slept for 12 hours after each one.

Click HERE to read the rest of the article...

Source

Bahamian-American actor Sydney Poitier is to receive The Medal of Honor award in an official ceremony this month at the White House.

Photo source
He became the first black man to win an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1963 for his role in Lilies of The Field. His most well known movies were To Sir, With Love, In The Heat of The Night and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner-all box office hits in 1967. In 1999 the American Film Institute ranked him 22 of their 25 Greatest Male Stars of All Time. He has not forgotten his island roots: since1997 he has been the Bahamian ambassador to Japan.


Says President Obama of the receipients:
“These outstanding men and women represent an incredible diversity of backgrounds.Their tremendous accomplishments span fields from science to sports, from fine arts to foreign affairs. Yet they share one overarching trait: Each has been an agent of change. Each saw an imperfect world and set about improving it, often overcoming great obstacles along the way.”

Other Medal of Honor recipients include:

-Stephen Hawking, renowned Physicist

-Jack Kemp, 1996 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee ,

-Harvey Milk, LGBT pioneer and the first openly gay elected official

- Nancy Goodman Brinker, founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s leading breast cancer grassroots organization

- Pedro Jose Greer, Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs at the Florida International University School of Medicine and founder of Camillus Health Concern, an agency that provides medical care to over 10,000 homeless patients a year in Miami

- Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), a champion of healthcare reform and the Senate’s liberal lion and second most senior member

- Billie Jean King, former world no. 1 tennis player and first woman commissioner in professional sports

- Rev. Joseph Lowery, minister at the United Methodist Church and co-founder the Southern Christian Leadership Conference along with Martin Luther King

- Joe Medicine Crow, the last living Plains Indian war chief and author of seminal works in Native American history and culture

- Sandra Day O’Connor, first woman Supreme Court justice

- Chita Rivera, Tony Award-winning actress and first Hispanic to receive the Kennedy Center Honor

- Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland and a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

- Janet Davison Rowley, geneticist and recipient of the National Medal of Science–the nation’s highest scientific honor

- Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Anglican Archbishop emeritus who was a leading anti-apartheid activist in South Africa

- Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize awardee and economist who pioneered the use of micro-loans to fight poverty

The Medal of Freedom was established in 1945 by Harry Truman to recognize civilian service during World War II. Revived by John F. Kennedy during his term and not limited to U.S. citizens, past recipients include Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, Tony Blair, Gen Tommy Franks, John Kenneth Galbraith, Harper Lee, Colin Powell and Arnold Palmer.

Source

Take in the crowning of the newest MISS UNIVERSE® live and in person in The Islands Of The Bahamas.

Beginning August 5, the breathtaking beauty of these 700 islands will be wonderfully enhanced by beauty queens from more than 80 countries as they converge in Nassau for the 58th Annual MISS UNIVERSE® Competition. The contest set for August 23rd 2009, will air live on NBC and Telemundo.

Dayana Mendoza, the reigning Miss Universe and Miss Venezuela

Want to see them in person? Plan your trip now to The Islands of The Bahamas. Visit early and you can join the international beauties on their whirlwind Island Hopping Adventure in their quest to experience the “best” of The Bahamas. See special Miss Universe packages. For the aspiring beauty queens, the Miss University Model Search & Boot Camp Retreat is your opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade.


My Miss Universe Contest Coming Soon

There must be a Miss Universe in your life, enter her in the My Miss Universe contest will honor the everyday women in our lives. Starting July 31st, you can nominate the center of your universe in a written submission with photo or video submission. She’ll be entered to win a dream getaway fit for a queen to two islands in The Islands Of The Bahamas. There will also be two runners-up who will win wonderful island getaway packages. So start planning now. To receive contest updates, click HERE.



Official MISS UNIVERSE® Island Hopping Events:


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Nassau

Visit to the Ardastra Gardens

Tour of Fort Charlotte

Tour of Clifton Heritage Site and Sacred Space

Visit Arawak Cay (Fish Fry)



Thursday, August 6, 2009

Visit the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

Courtesy Call on the Governor General

Tea Party at Government House



Friday, August 7, 2009

Nassau

Downtown Casual Shopping & Photo-ops

Display of Authentically Bahamian Arts and Craft in Rawson Square



Saturday, August 8, 2009

Exuma

Tour of Moriah Harbour Cay and Elizabeth Harbour

Stocking Island

Bimini

Bimini Bay Resort

Visit to Fountain of Youth and Shark Lab

Island Hopping Packages



Sunday, August 9, 2009

Grand Bahama

Tour of Garden of the Groves and photo-ops

Port Lucaya Marketplace

Swimsuit Presentation (5:00pm) - click here for tickets & information

Great Lawn, Our Lucaya Resort, Grand Bahama Island

Grand Bahama Island Packages



Monday, August 10, 2009

Motorcade (1:00pm)

Throughout the main streets of Nassau

National Costume Presentation (7:00pm) - click here for tickets & information

Rainforest Theatre, Wyndham Nassau Resort

Junkanoo Rush-out (9:30 – 11:00pm)

Cable Beach Causeway



Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Harbour Island

Tour of island by golf cart

Beach and leisure activities at Coral Sands

Abaco

Treasure Cay

Green Turtle Cay

Island Hopping Packages



Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Bahamian Designer Fashion Show (7:00pm) - click here for tickets & information

Independence Ballroom, Sheraton Nassau Beach Hotel



Thursday, August 13, 2009

State Gift Auction Dinner (7:30pm) - click here for tickets & information

Independence Ballroom, Sheraton Nassau Beach Hotel



Sunday, August 16, 2009

Presentation Show - click here for tickets & information

Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis



Sunday, August 23, 2009

Viewing Party - click here for tickets & information

Royal Court, Royal Tower, Atlantis



Final Show/Telecast - click here for tickets & information

Imperial Ballroom, Atlantis



Coronation Ball - click here for tickets & information

Official Bahamas Miss Universe 2009 Link