‘Culture Shock’ in George Town cancelled

| 31/05/2013

culture shock2.jpg(CNS): The launch of a new monthly event celebrating all things local shceduled for this evening has been cancelled due to expected bad weather. However, organisers say the event will take place Friday 28 June. ‘Culture Shock: a Cayman Nite’ is designed to be the pulse of Cayman, and Grass Piece Group, the local non-profit organization behind it, plans to revitalize George Town through a once monthly celebration of Cayman people, music, art and culture. The entrance will be free and organisers promise it will be an extraordinary night. Kids will have their own special area for fun and games and there will be lots of Caymanian food favourites at each event. 

This month will feature vendors from North Side, who will sell favourites like fish tea, fish and fritters, conch, turtle, beef, cakes and local fruit juices. Aside from great food, the entertainers set for this inaugural event are local favourites the Red Bay Drummers, Shameka Clarke, Andy Blake and Swanky Kitchen Band. 

A spokesperson for Grass Piece said, “In so many other countries the capital is where all the excitement is. It’s as if you can feel the heartbeat of the city intensify as night falls. But here in Grand Cayman, after corporate business hours, George Town is eerily deserted and quiet; many have likened it to a ghost town. Part of the problem is that there is nothing to draw people in. Grass Piece management wants to change that and expects that these events will give locals a reason to fall in love with Town again. We want to bring excitement back to downtown George Town while re-building a sense of community, and we plan to do exactly that on the last Friday of every month. 

“Imagine people simply enjoying each other’s company, like a good backyard cookout, and you have Culture Shock — people you love, conversation, laughter, games, music, and, of course, good ‘cook food’.  It will bring visitors and locals back to the capital for something fabulous each month. From arts and entertainment to local vendors and other surprises, there will always be something new to see.” 

To learn more about this event, please contact:

Grass Piece Group
Cell: 926.0961
grasspiecegroup@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/caymancultureshock

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  1. Anonymous says:

    It's a play on "Caymanite" people!!!

  2. Anonymous says:

    It's quiet downtown cuz Dart wants it quiet.  When he wants it lit up, he'll light it up.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Stupid name " culture shock " !!

    • Anonymous says:

      Not really, I would be shocked after all these years to find out there is one.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Why go down to GT ?  Kinda out of the way, parking's a pain. Maybe if there was buses that ran past 6pm, instead of price gouging taxi's. Perhaps then people would venture to Georgetown.  

    • Anonymous says:

      I don't mind the downtown location, GT needs some stimulation and this could be just a start.  I've been saying we should have a fish fry with music and entertainment in town for the longest time.  However, it makes absolutely no sense to start anything at 5 pm when everyone is just leaving for work.  If it is necessary to close any roads for this, they should be closed after 6.00 pm with the event to start at 7.00-7.30 pm.  I totally agree with your comment regarding the bus service.  Whilst all bus services do continue beyond 6.00 pm, most of the Easterly district buses are finished by 8.00 pm.  I have been saying since time that we could do a lot to stimulate the economy, business in GT, and to reduce drink driving if only we had an adequate bus service that ran, even just hourly, late into the night weekdays, and into the early hours of Saturday morning at weekends.

      • Anonymous says:

        I HATE when they say "drink driving"  it is DRUNK driving

        and G.T. is just fine at night. Let it be a sleepy town at night

        It has been quiet in town at night for decades !!!!

        Thank you

      • Anonymous says:

        The govt. should own and run the bus service, like in Bermuda.  You can live without an automobile in Bermuda as the public transportions (buses and ferries) provide fantastic and on the clock service. Cayman copies so much from Bermuda, why not copy the good and reliable public transportation system?

        • Anonymous says:

          What does Cayman copy from Bermuda? The last thing we need is for the govt. to be entering into businesses best left for private enterprise. Regulate them by all means, but own them – absolutely not.  

    • Anonymous says:

      I think one reason to go down there after dark is if you like getting mugged.

    • Anonymous says:

      Where in the hell is Georgetown anyway? Guyana, Ontario, USA, St. Vincent… How can you drive a bus from George Town to any of these locations?

  5. Anonymous says:

    I heard the young lady on Rooster this morning. It’s great to see the young people taking an interest in our culture and I wish them much success. I hope all concerned do their very best to make this a success.

    I was thinking too that the stores should take advantage of this night and open late and offer specials. You can’t find a shop open past 5 (a few now stay open until 6) anywhere in town or anywhere else, other than the convenience stores and grocery stores. It would be great to be able to “go shopping” in the evening and not have to do everything on Saturday. In this vein maybe the venue could alternate in different areas of town (?).

  6. Anonymous says:

    Why close Harbour Drive Friday rush hour? We seem to love closing the roads downtown…. Have the event on one street to begin with. Cardinal Ave or Fort Street and as it grows, expand. Or what about starting at Royal Watler? The Taste of Cayman 4 years ago was a great venue. 

    One thing that would jump start Georgetown right away is pay parking. You drive downtown at 730 in the morning and all the road parking is full. $2.00 an hour, three hour maximum. free parking from 5pm to 8am. 

  7. Anonymous says:

    Grest Job, great start and good luck..

  8. Anonymous says:

    cayman culture celebration.?????…. now i know where not to go this friday….

    only joking….honestly best of luck with it….

  9. Anonymous says:

    I hate to be a naysayer but this plan will go like everthing else.  It will start off well and then simply fade away.  Unless a town manager is appointed to run things properly then the organisers of this Grass Piece Group will soon get sick and fed up with trying to get people to: (1) – turn up and set up thier stalls (2) Offer anything different and exciting that will entice people to even want to come.  The merchants in George Town need to create a fund (monthly stipend) that would pay the salary of this George Town manager.  The Government should not need to fund this.   And, the shops in Town should all open late on this given Friday and offer a big discount to shoppers to encourage customers.  That's my two cents!

  10. Bob Moseley says:

    Fantastic to see this happening! Hope it’s a great success.
    Bob

    • Bob Moseley says:

      Why did I get thumbs down for wishing the group success with this event??? I posted that before it got rained out. Hopefully it will be rescheduled.

  11. Anonymous says:

    “Nite”? What is wrong with “night”? Are we all dumbing down?

    • Anonymous says:

      Is that your only comment? How about a little encourgement to spice it up…scurry on!

      • Anonymous says:

        To be honest the use of the word "Nite" did send a message to me, and that message was "You don't want to go to this".  It has the similar effect as "All you can eat".

        • Anonymous says:

          Huh? 

          • Anonymous says:

            I bet the poster above is seriously overweight.

            • Anonymous says:

              "Huh?" = Fat and stupid.  A too common combination.

              • Anonymous says:

                Haha.  No, Im not fat or overweight (although I could always use more exercise!).   Just was commenting on your negative comments.    Im one of the volunteer organizers (and I volunteer at the art gallery and previously at Prospect Playhouse).      I didnt come up with the tiltle ot the event, but I know the folks who did.   They were merely trying to connote a more informal, traditional event with the title.   No intention of 'dumbing things down'.   Just, again, merely trying to connote a fun, traditional event.  Listen, not all of these things will be successful, but you and others should be mindful that these events are put together solely by volunteers, who want to add an interesting dimension to Cayman life.  Some work; some dont.   But it is discouraging to volunteers like me to hear such comments.    Hey, we arent professionals;   we want to try something different.   Anyway, despite your comments, I hope you (and others) will attend at the end of June.    We are just taking a chance on something different (and really trying to showcase talented individuals from around the island).     Just once a month, something more traditional, and 'islandy'.   But please, I know these comments are annonymous, but they do take a little steam out of us volunteers that are merely trying to make life more interesting.   Take care, and if this is not your taste, then fine.   But keep anopen mind (…..as Im reading a wonderful biography on Galileo…) 

                • Anonymous says:

                  Keen and well intentioned amateurism is not going to make on jot of difference to the significant structural problems in George Town.  Absent significant investment, which is not available, it will only get worse.

        • Anonymous says:

          Or “casual dining”, which seems to mean “targeted at fat people in shorts who take even more food home in a box”.

    • Anonymous says:

      "Nite" is an English word.  It is a variation of "night", and used mainly in informal contexts.  And this stylized event name is such a context.

      (So, in a sense YOUR comment is 'dumb', because you didnt know this)

      • Anonymous says:

        I am painfully aware of the use of the "word" "Nite".  It is ghastly and inane, and generally used to appeal to a demographic which through hard work and talent I do not belong. 

        • Anonymous says:

          same happy bitter soul posting negative remarks. Give the organisers credits for trying and offer constructive comments or keep your miserable gob shut

          • Anonymous says:

            I love that Yankee atttiude of having to say only good things.  GT shops need to stop selling utter crap, GT needs some decent parking and it needs to feel safe after dark.  As none of these things are ever going to happen, it is going to be Camana Bay again for me tonight.

            • Anonymous says:

              Caymana Bay=vision of a Yankee

            • Anonymous says:

              Crap is big business. Even the English buy it.

            • AnOn says:

              I have a GT busn. and I don’t sell crap. Half of my sales are local. I seriously doubt that you have ever come down town and check out the retailers, or their products. Our prices are far, far lower than other places on the Island because we are competing with other countries, not just Cayman. You can buy a cute, beachy dress for US $30 in GT, same dress on WB road….CI $60, in Camana Bay….CI $120.

          • Anonymous says:

            Great response!  He sounds like a plantation owner from the 18th century, thinking he is better than everyone.  "Hard work and talent".  Miserable soul. 

        • Anonymous says:

          You sound about as much fun as a wet pair of socks on a cold day!    Is it really "ghastly" and "inane"?    You really find it 'intensely unpleasant, disagreeable, or objectionable'?     Do you know the difference between formal and informal, and perhaps a legal document and a fun event name?   Since you have such a command of the Queen's English, you will surely also know the definition of "arrogant", "haughty", and "supercilious".   And, stay away from our event.  We expect there to be smiling and laughing people attending, and you will probably find that objectionable….and maybe even "ghastly". 

        • Anonymous says:

          I think you mean, "…to which, through hard work and talent, I do not belong."

      • Anonymous says:

        Like “thru”, the word “nite” is an abonimation used by the lazy or the ignorant.

        • Anonymous says:

          Gawd, you are so, so arrogant.   I this is how you REALLY feel, you are in the wrong place, buddy.  But, I sense you are merely trying to get a rise out of people with annonymous comments. 

  12. CayStudent says:

    If George Town became permanently busy at 24hrs somehow… this island's economy would only just get better and better. This is a good start in the right direction!